Richmond forward Ben Lennon has returned to the Club in the second week of 2016 as he continues to progress following a mild case of glandular fever.

Lennon, who missed the Palm Cove pre-season training camp in mid-December, looks set to resume training in the main group as soon as this Friday.

Summer twilight training session and free kids’ clinic set for Cardinia Shire

“He’s had some blood tests in the last couple of weeks, each week, and he’s gotten better each time,” said Richmond’s Physical Performance Manager, Peter Burge.

“He’s resumed training this week, albeit modified, and I’d anticipate he’ll be joining in with the main group towards the end of this week and set himself up for the NAB (Challenge), which is looking really positive.

“He’s come back really well from Christmas, he looks in good shape, and his running this week’s looked really good. He’s recovering really well, that’s the main thing.”

Reigning Jack Dyer medallist Alex Rance returned to the club at the beginning of last week after an extended off-season break, and has already worked his way into the main football program.

“First day he arrived back, you look at him, and he looks exactly the same – fit, trim and in shape – and his time-trial showed us that he’d done the work overseas,” said Burge.

“He’s a player that you know if he’s training by himself will work at absolute maximum intensity, and he’s done that.”

Nathan Drummond has responded positively to an increase in workload in his on-going recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

The soon-to-be 21-year-old suffered the injury on his senior debut in round four last year, but has since laid strong foundations for a resumption of skills training.

“It’s going fantastically well,” said Burge.

“Pre-Christmas we were able to step his workload up a little bit, but he had a very specifically targeted program over the Christmas break and this week we’re starting to see him progress to another level with his change of direction, his confidence, and his ability to jump and land.

"We’re still going to be very mindful of the timeframe. He’s a young player, but he’s on track and without putting a timeframe on it, I’d anticipate he’d be doing some sort of skill work soon.”