Forwards Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins are nearing a return to full training after post-season surgery.

Lynch (knee) and Jenkins (ankle) were both on modified training programs pre-Christmas.

Jenkins completed select drills with the main group prior to the break, while Lynch joined his teammates for the first time this summer on Monday. The All Australian nominees are expected to graduate to full training in the coming weeks.

Lynch, who was on light duties for six weeks following a knee arthroscope, said he was slightly ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

“Obviously, you’d love to be out there with the main group for the whole summer, but I’ve got a good chunk of time now to get myself ready for the start of the year,” Lynch said.

“I don’t think I’m too far away at all (from full training), but the boys have obviously done a power of work to this point so I’m sure I’ll have a little bit of work to do to catch up!”

Lynch was able to escape the monotonous rehab routine by training in different locations in the offseason. The 26-year-old caught up with Crows Physio and Rehab Coach Duncan Kellaway while both men were on holidays with their families in Noosa.

Lynch was also fortunate enough to train in some of the best facilities the world during a whirlwind trip to the United States, which involved a remarkable 15 flights in seven days.

The avid NFL fan visited the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, as well as college teams Oregon, Michigan and USC.

Lynch and Jenkins, who attended a couple of football games together, met Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and were introduced to a number of other players and coaches in the system.

Wingman Rory Atkins, midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen and former University of New Mexico basketballer Hugh Greenwood were among the other Crows to train in America over the break.

AFL club facilities are considered elite by Australian sporting standards, but Lynch was amazed by the enormity of the training bases in the US including that of the Oregon Ducks, which even has a full-scale barbershop exclusively for its players.

“It was incredible. I was able to do some training over there at some pretty fascinating college football and NFL teams as well,” he said.

“To see the way they go about things, see their training facilities and meet a few of their coaches was a great insight for me not only as a player but also down the track if I want to get into coaching or anything like that down the track.”

Lynch and his Crows teammates have seven weeks before the Club’s first hit-out of 2017 against Richmond at Etihad Stadium in the JLT Community Series on Friday, February 24.

Adelaide’s opening game of the Premiership Season is on Sunday, March 26, at home against early flag favourites Greater Western Sydney.

A strong vocal presence at training since re-joining the main group, Lynch said he’d noticed an increase in intensity on the track this pre-season.

“The boys have come back in fantastic shape after Christmas, but also pre-Christmas they were training really hard,” he said.

“The competition for spots is going to be really tough this year, you can tell that out on the track. No one can get an easy inch and it’s really impressive. It’s lifted the training standard.

“It’s always been a strength of this Club, how hard the boys train, and somehow it’s gone to a new level and that’s really pleasing.”