HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson concedes a fully fit Trent Croad would be a "bonus" for the club as the key defender attempts to resurrect his career after missing the entire 2009 season through injury.

Croad last played for the Hawks in the 2008 grand final, a match he did not complete after limping off the ground with a broken foot.

At the time, the severity of the injury was unknown but it kept Croad out of a Hawthorn team depleted for a lot of its 2009 campaign.

While acknowledging the extent of the challenge facing Croad, Clarkson said the 29-year-old was doing everything possible to kick-start his AFL career.

"His was a very significant injury. He is the eternal optimist and so are we all when it comes to recovery from injury," he told afl.com.au.

"He went through a program to give himself every chance of playing this year but as he stepped it up to get to 95 to 100 per cent speed, his foot wouldn't respond to the work we were trying to put into it.

"There will be no lack of trying on his behalf or our club's to try and get him right. If we do, we consider it a significant bonus but we've got our fingers crossed he will get through this recovery period reasonably healthy."

Questions have also been raised about the future of wingman Clinton Young after a newspaper report suggested his career was over.

But Clarkson said he would be put on a program to accommodate his recovery.

"From our point of view, he's had groin surgery that will hopefully correct his problem. It isn't too much different to a lot of other players who have had a very similar injury," he said.

"It's a common operation with the groin injury these days and we're anticipating he will make a full recovery from that injury and he will be up and running."

Luckless ruckman Max Bailey is another player the club is hoping will be able to return from injury although his chances of featuring in the 2010 season are slim.

Bailey tore his anterior cruciate ligament in round 22; an injury made all the more disappointing as he was already coming back from two reconstructions of his other knee.

"Max has had his third ACL but it's his other knee this time ... we have to treat the injury in isolation from his other two mishaps," Clarkson said.

"The lad is still only 21, 22 years of age and we hold high hopes he will be an important player for us, and we are confident he will recover strongly from this surgery."

Young and recruit Shaun Burgoyne - who is recovering from minor knee surgery - are expected to resume full training by December.