Fremantle have taken a big hit in their bid to get their season back on track with news that Harley Bennell has yet another calf injury and will have his return to football delayed even further.

Club sources last night confirmed Bennell felt discomfort in his left calf during a running session on Tuesday and scans showed a “minor” tear.

His running program will be minimised for about a week but, with his history of calf problems, Bennell is now unlikely to make his return to football for at least a month.

The Dockers, reeling from a 42-point home defeat to Geelong and an 89-point away flogging by Port Adelaide, desperately need Bennell’s poise and disposal skills in their midfield.

The 24-year-old played 81 games over five seasons at Gold Coast but has played just one pre-season match for Fremantle in 2016 and one match for Peel before his calf problems — which had dogged him at the Suns — flared again.

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After a series of attempted comebacks and breakdowns last year, the club flew Bennell to Germany in the off-season for treatment by renowned calf-muscle specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.

The German doctor had earned his reputation as the national football team’s doctor. He was also credited with helping get Usain Bolt’s bid for Olympic games 100m and 200m gold medals in Rio de Janeiro back on track after calf issues. He helped Collingwood’s Ben Reid with his chronic calf problems which are similar to Bennell’s.

Reid successfully returned to the field last season.

Bennell’s latest calf tear is said to be in the opposite leg to the one Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt mainly worked on over summer.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon has been reluctant to put a time on Bennell’s return and admitted that, as he ramps up his running program, Fremantle were holding their breath that he suffered no more setbacks.