LIKE many Aussies Gold Coast recruit Jarrad Grant woke up on Tuesday feeling like he had fallen off a bike.

The former Bulldog spent Australia Day in hospital having a pin inserted into a broken wrist suffered in a cycling accident.

Grant crashed his bike while on an early morning team training ride on Saturday.

The Suns were given three days leave around Australia Day and did not return to training until Tuesday where Grant was spotted with his arm in a sling.

Round 18

Football manager Marcus Ashcroft confirmed the forward had a fractured bone in his wrist but said it was expected he would be fit to take part in the Suns’ final NAB Challenge match against Adelaide on March 11.

He said Grant should be able to resume running next week and the injury should not derail his push to make his debut for the Suns in Round 1 against Essendon at Metricon Stadium on March 26.

“It got pinned. That’s successful, (so) we have to see how it goes over the next three to four weeks when it comes to him being ready to play. But in the meantime he can do the running, which is good for him,’’ he said.

“We’re excited about him, he is the X-factor. He can get to the right spot and do some clever things.’’

Jarrad Grant is expected to be fit for the final NAB Challenge game. Picture: Scott Fletcher Source: News Corp Australia

The Suns have enjoyed a relatively painless run with injuries this off-season.

Gun midfielder David Swallow and ruckman Tom Nicholls both rejoined the main training group yesterday.

It leaves Jaeger O’Meara, Jarrod Harbrow and Grant as the only senior listed players in the rehab group.

“Our numbers have been consistently around 40 which has been good,’’ Ashcroft said.

“Harbrow and Grant will be ready in the next few weeks and will play at some point in the pre-season.

“So O’Meara is the uncertain one, he may play a NAB game but we want to get it right so if it takes longer we are prepared for that.’’

Grant, 26, was recruited by the Suns as a delisted free agent at the end of last season after 81 games in eight seasons at the Kennel.

The Suns have traditionally played with three tall forwards but the departure of Charlie Dixon to Port Adelaide has created a vacancy in their attacking 50m.

Coach Rodney Eade is reluctant to replace Dixon with another big man because of the reduction of the interchange.

He believes he will require more running power in his attack and was after a mid-sized player who could get up the ground better than the stay-at-home Dixon.

At 193cm, Grant, although not an elite runner, fits the bill.

Grant played 19 games for the Bulldogs last year including the elimination final loss to Adelaide.