Injured Carlton star Marc Murphy hopes to be back in the AFL in a month.

Murphy, who fractured his left shoulder against Adelaide in round eight, has finally been able to take the arm out of a sling.

But he says it is now a matter of regaining strength.

“I haven’t done anything on it for four weeks, so I’ve got a little girl’s arm at the moment,” Murphy told the Blues website on Tuesday.

“I’ve got to get back in the gym and work on that.

“It’s just a case of strengthening it up over the next couple of weeks, do some more weights, more running and hopefully be back out there in a month’s time.”

The Blues have won only one of four matches since losing their reigning best and fairest player.

While they have a bye this weekend, they face tough encounters against Hawthorn and Collingwood in the following two rounds without the midfield gun.