PREMIERSHIP forward Ryan Schoenmakers may be sidelined for a few more weeks, with the Hawks uncertain as to when he will be fit to return.

Schoenmakers has only played four games – three at AFL level, one at VFL level – in 2016, as he has battled a rare pelvic injury.

GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan told The Australian the Hawks were unclear as to when the 25-year-old would be available – but were hoping it would be sooner rather than later.

“What he’s got is really quite rare and to be honest, we’d just be guessing in attempting to put down a return date,” Fagan said.

“Two months ago we thought he’d be back in a couple of weeks.

“Even though his injury has gone on way longer than we thought, he is back in rehabilitation, running in straight lines.

“It’s getting better, but obviously not at the level where we think he can return to play. We’re confident it will come right, but it needs time and we’re not sure how long that will take.

“He is getting better slowly, but just his training program is a week-to-week proposition.”

Schoenmakers was a key contributor in the Hawks’ 2015 premiership win, and is just two games shy of reaching 100.

With star forward Jarryd Roughead unavailable indefinitely, the Hawks will be hoping Schoenmakers can return ahead of another likely finals campaign, to add another another element to a forward line containing Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo and emerging targets James Sicily and Tim O’Brien.