Forward/ruckman Josh Jenkins expects to be available for Adelaide’s NAB Challenge games after completing his recovery from a fractured leg.

Jenkins played the first 18 games of last season before injuring his leg against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium in July.

The athletic Crow had surgery to repair the damage and was confined to a moon boot for more than two months. He progressed to running early in the pre-season and is now in full training.

“I was ready to train fully before the Christmas break, but the fitness guys held me back a little bit knowing that there was no rush,” Jenkins said on Wednesday.

“Now, I’m back training 100 per cent with the group, doing all the competition and tackling work. It’s been four or five months, so it’s great to be back out with the boys and able to do everything.

“I can’t see any reason why I won’t be ready for the pre-season matches in February.”

Jenkins was one of four Crows forwards to be struck down by injury last season, with Taylor Walker (knee), Tom Lynch (foot) and Lewis Johnston (fractured leg) all spending time on the sidelines.

The hopeful return of Walker and addition of Geelong premiership player James Podsiadly will increase the pressure for spots in Adelaide’s attack. Jenkins, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2013, welcomed the competition.

 “It’s healthy competition,” he said.

“We saw last year how things can fall away when we haven’t got the depth. Injuries play a big part and it’s a long year. Touch wood, we don’t get injuries again but if we do it looks like we’ll have the depth there and we won’t lose much in any area.”

The 24-year-old said time spent in a moon boot after surgery and the slow progress to walking, then running, had helped him reflect on his life as a professional athlete. Having watched edits of his own highlights and those of opposition players, Jenkins also said he'd learned a lot about his own game during his months on the sidelines.

"You only appreciate the little things like walking and running when you get them taken away," he said.

"It's been a while now, four or five months but it's great to be back out with the boys … having no restrictions.

"'Tex' was in the same boat, he was out, so we watched a fair bit of footy and opposition guys who ran around week to week.

"You try and pick up things where you can learn and take it into the next summer."

The 197cm forward, who has traded to the Crows from Essendon at the end of 2011, has played 28 games since making his debut against Geelong in round seven, 2012.