Carlton skipper Marc Murphy appears no closer to making his AFL return from a persistent ankle injury.

It had been hoped Murphy would only miss two to three weeks when he suffered the injury against Geelong in round 10, but coach Brendon Bolton said on Friday he’s likely be out for another three weeks.

In better news for the Blues, Dennis Armfield appears set to return from a groin injury against Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday, while veteran defender Michael Jamison will return from illness in the VFL.