Essendon defender Courtenay Dempsey has returned to the training track for the first time since suffering a heavy knock against Sydney in Round 10.

Dempsey was running laps around Windy Hill and took part in a light skills session on Tuesday afternoon, two days before his teammates are set to return from the mid-season break..

The 25-year-old said he was excited to be back running again.

“I am feeling pretty good, it was nice to just get the legs ticking over again and later in the week I will ramp up my training a bit more,” Dempsey said.

“We will just have to see how I train later in the week but I hope to be able to take on West Coast next Thursday night.”

Dempsey was stretchered from the field and was coughing up blood following a sickening clash with Sydney defender Nick Smith at the SCG in Round 10.

Essendon’s full playing list returns to training on Thursday afternoon.