Adelaide forward Lachlan Murphy will have surgery on a bulging disc in his neck next week.

The 23-year-old has managed a shoulder and neck complaint for the past two seasons and while training fully in the off-season he aggravated it in October and again last week.

Adelaide High Performance Manager Darren Burgess said Murphy would begin his rehabilitation within a fortnight after surgery but was not expected to commence contact training for about three months.

“While it’s disappointing for Lachlan to be missing the second half of the pre-season, the decision to have surgery will give him the best chance to return to football in full health,” Burgess said.

“We are pleased by the amount of work he has been able to do to this point and are confident he will return to his best this season.”