O'Meara has been suffering from knee tendinitis in 2017, limiting him to just four games this season.

His last game came all the way back in round six against St. Kilda - a 75-point loss for the Hawks.

However, Clarkson revealed the 23-year-old could be back in a few week's time as he continues his return to full fitness.

“He is back in a full training program and we are hoping he plays in three-to-four weeks,” Clarkson told SEN Breakfast on Friday.

“We want him to play before the end of the year. It is good for us, the footy club and the supporters to see that his body will be okay.”

Clarkson added: “He had a stress related bone injury that was a reflection of him trying to put some load back into his body having not played for two years.

“He hasn’t had the best reaction to that in terms of bone stress. We have settled that down. It was linked but not exactly the same as what he had before.

“In terms of his patella, we are happy about how that has progressed over the year."

While he may play a game or two at the back end of this season, Clarkson says the focus is getting O'Meara fit and firing for 2018.

“We have had to hold him back but we are confident with a good preseason, he will be able to play some good footy for us next year," he said.