Essendon great Tim Watson has grave fears over a potential return for dashing defender Conor McKenna after he flew back to Ireland due to homesickness.

The Bombers suffered a blow heading into the start of the season as McKenna left the club indefinitely, with the 23-year-old all but certain to miss the entire Marsh Community Series.

While Watson said he hadn’t spoken to Essendon insiders, he believed if McKenna doesn’t return in time for Round 1, there should be major doubt as to whether he will come back to the club during 2020.

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“This is a real concern now,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast about a Herald Sun report of the club almost giving up hope of a Round 1 return.

“Round 1 is probably still a month away. I’m just forecasting this now and if you are not back for Round 1 quickly and swiftly. You haven’t gone down the road, you are on the other side of the world.

“Now he’s back with family and friends, there’s got to be doubt of him coming back to Essendon this year.

“I would’ve thought when you’re a little bit homesick, you (go home) see your mates. It seems a lot more serious than this.”

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McKenna played 22 games in 2019.

The Bomber is contract until the end of 2021, with the club set to trial McKenna is a role up forward this season.

McKenna, having played in all but one senior match in 2019, conceded he still “suffers a bit of homesickness” in an interview with an Irish publication in December.

He defied club rules to play a Gaelic match in November and missed the club’s Round 19 match to return home for his brother’s wedding.