Brisbane Lions AFL coach Michael Voss says captain Jonathan Brown is in good spirits and should return to training on Monday despite undergoing facial surgery for the third time in 12 months.

There were fears for Brown’s playing future after he fractured his left cheekbone in a training collision on Wednesday following two horrific head injuries last year.

But Voss said Brown was working towards returning in round three of the new AFL season after going under the knife on Wednesday night.

“He’s moving around. He’s in good spirits,” Voss said on Thursday.

“Obviously he is very disappointed. I don’t think he can believe it himself as many can’t believe it either.

“But after talking to Browny, his mind has already shifted toward when he can start training again … and that looks like Monday.”

Voss admitted he feared the worst when Brown went down at training after clashing with team-mate Matt Maguire in a marking contest.

“I must admit it because he has that recent history (of head injuries),” he said.

“But once we got all the information, we were able to relax a little bit and put it into context – and that is it will take six weeks to heal and he will be available for round three.”

Voss said he would need to slot in an experienced player up front to fill the void left by Brown but would cast his eye over hopefuls in this weekend’s NAB Cup clash with Adelaide in Alice Springs.