There is no clear date on when Dustin Fletcher will return to the Essendon line-up.

The Bomber veteran hasn’t played since running out for his 400^th game against Richmond in round nine.

Fletcher has been battling an abdominal problem. 

“By definition he hasn’t got osteitis pubis,” Club Doctor Bruce Reid said. 

“What we’re having is a lot of trouble trying to settle down his abdominal tendons which is his actual condition.

“He’s made very little progress in the last five or six weeks.” 

Reid said Fletcher would need to build up his fitness base when he does return to full training.

“Even if we can settle it down quickly, he’s lost a bit of conditioning.

“You can’t put a timeframe on it because some tendonitis settles down in two weeks and his is six weeks and improved slightly.”