HAWTHORN premiership midfielder Will Langford has suffered a punctured lung, further delaying his bid for a return to the senior side.

Langford suffered the injury the weekend before last playing in the VFL for Box Hill, having been dropped from the AFL side before then.

The 24-year-old spent time in hospital after suffering the injury but has since returned to the club and has resumed light training.

"He's back running now and is feeling good, but we just want to make sure it's fully right before we play him again," Hawks football general manager Chris Fagan told hawthornfc.com.au.

The Hawks have also revealed that midfielder Alex Woodward's first game back after his third knee reconstruction had a bittersweet epilogue.

While Woodward's knee pulled up well after the hit-out for Box Hill's development team, he ended up suffering a fully-ruptured plantar fascia, which will keep him out for up to four weeks.

"He's a bit sore, but it is better than rupturing it partially according to the doctors," Fagan said.

"It's a bit disappointing for the young fella but he's taking it in his stride as he always does and he's looking forward to his next game."

The Hawks also reported that key forward Ryan Schoenmakers is making slow progress from the groin injury that has sidelined him for most of the season, while Matt Spangher has stepped up his recovery from a hamstring tendon injury and is back running.

Hawthorn will make at least one change for Thursday night's Adelaide Oval clash with Port Adelaide, with Cyril Rioli set to return after missing the Gold Coast clash before the bye because of a family funeral in the Northern Territory.