Defenders Andy Otten and Ricky Henderson have been sidelined by injury.

Otten, 26, is recovering from a minor procedure on his right knee. The injury isn’t related to the ACL reconstruction which kept the versatile Crow sidelined for the first half of the 2015 season.

Coach Don Pyke said he expected Otten to be back training in late-January.

“Andy had a bit of a clean-out of his knee last week,” Pyke said on Wednesday.

“Andy came back to (pre-season) training, started doing some running and his knee flared up a little bit, so we’ve taken the action there. He’s probably going to be delayed through until the end of January for a return to training.”

Henderson, 27, recently had surgery to correct an ongoing back complaint.

He missed a month with the injury earlier in the year, but was able to play out the season.

“We’d hoped Hendo’s back was going to settle down across the offseason. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, so he’s had some surgery on his back,” Pyke said.

“That will delay him, hopefully, only until the end of January when he can resume some training.”

Pyke was optimistic both Otten and Henderson would be fit for Round One.

“We’re pretty positive that the way they’re presenting at the moment will give them a chance to be available for Round One,” he said.

“Once we get them back out on the track, we’re hopeful they’ll be available for enough conditioning to get ready for the start of the season.”

Trade Period recruit Curtly Hampton has made a conservative start to his career as a Crow.

Hampton was troubled by a groin injury this year, but is making good progress.

“Curtly came to us with a few groin issues, so we’re working through those,” Pyke said,

“It’s positive signs. He’s been back running now for a couple of weeks, so we’re hopeful that early in the (New) year he’ll return to full training.”

Young midfielder Brad Crouch is also stepping up his rehabilitation from a foot injury that ruined his 2015 season. Pyke said the Club would continue to take a cautious approach with the talented 21-year-old.

“We’re really happy with how Brad has progressed. He’s pain free, which is great,” Pyke said.

“He’s mainly been doing straight-line running but now he’s into some change of direction (running). I’ve said to Brad from day one that we’re not going to rush him. It’s important we get it (his foot) right once and for all and give him the best chance to have the best year he can have.

“I’m really positive he’ll return to training sometime in January. How soon that will be, we’ll be guided by how he pulls up when we get into that change of direction running.”