Coach Brenton Sanderson says Adelaide could be bolstered by the return of three key players in the next fortnight.

Versatile Crow Ricky Henderson made a successful comeback from a fractured leg in the Club’s State League clash with Central District on Saturday. Henderson, who sustained the serious injury at training in February, is yet to play an AFL game this season.

Last year’s Rising Star runner-up Brad Crouch, who has also recovered from a broken leg, has now played two games in the SANFL. Crouch, who was the substitute against Geelong in Round One and fractured his leg in Round Two, is yet to complete a full AFL game in 2014.

Forward Tom Lynch is set to return from a broken jaw in the SANFL next weekend.

Lynch, who missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury, has made three AFL appearances but played only one full game. He started as the substitute in his first match of the year against Greater Western Sydney in Round Five and was subbed out in the opening minutes against Melbourne a fortnight later after breaking his jaw.

Sanderson said he was looking forward to the important trio being ready for AFL selection.

“Tom Lynch will return next week in the State League. Brad Crouch has had two games back in the SANFL now, so we’ve got Lynch, Crouch and Henderson to come in still,” Sanderson said.

“We’ve only really had Lynch for one (full) game, which is so disappointing because he’s a critical player for us. Brad Crouch has only played one (full) game for us.

“Hopefully, for our fans there are some good players coming back into our side over the next couple of weeks.”

The return of Henderson would create a welcome headache for the Crows coaches.

Henderson made his mark as an attacking defender in the latter half of last season.

Since the former rookie’s injury, Brodie Smith has grown into the role, establishing himself as one of the most damaging running half-backs in the game.

“I’m really eager to get Henderson back,” Sanderson said.

“Brodie Smith’s hardly played a bad game for us this year. He’s really influential for us. I’d love to have two of them back there – Henderson on one half-back flank and Smith on the other. That could push Laird through the midfield permanently. They’re good problems for a coach to have.

“I know this Club had that great headache with Andrew McLeod. He was probably the side’s best player and he was playing at half-back but that set-up, kick role has become really important in the modern game.

“At the moment, I see Brodie playing his best footy for us across half-back but in two or three years he could become one of the competition’s best midfielders.”