SAM WRIGHT had just completed his first competitive training session in five months when a game of backyard cricket put him back into North Melbourne's rehab group.

It was December last year and Wright was buoyant after successfully testing out his surgically repaired right shoulder in North's main training group. He felt so good that when he returned home, he backed up for a hit of cricket with Kangaroos teammates Aaron Mullett and Leigh Adams.

After playing a shot, Wright went to retrieve the ball but felt a sharp pain. When he assessed his foot, it seemed he'd suffered no more than a scratch.

After Wright's persistent shoulder problems of 2011, it hardly seemed anything to worry about. He also knew Adams and Mullett would never let him hear the end of it if he 'retired hurt' because of a scratch.

So he batted on.

But about a week later, after three or four more training sessions, Wright's foot become sore and swollen.

It was a Sunday and a rare pre-season day off, but Wright didn't want to wait to get his foot assessed. So he called North director of medical services Steve Saunders, who diagnosed an infection and arranged for him to go on a course of antibiotics.

Even so, Wright woke the following day in excruciating pain that made it almost unbearable for him to stand, let alone walk.

He was taken to hospital later that day for scans and, when his infected foot had not shown significant improvement after an intensive course of antibiotics, he was operated on the next day.

The week's events left Wright's head spinning.

"It was almost frightening it happened that quickly," Wright told AFL.com.au on Wednesday.

"On the Monday I was in so much pain, I was panicking and my foot was hardly recognisable. I remember thinking, 'how could a little scratch have turned into this'?"

Wright is just grateful he was able to call on Saunders and North's "great" medical staff, saying their decision to put him on antibiotics on the Sunday night had slowed the spread of his infection.

Subsequently, Wright discovered a nail was the cause of his injury. His failure to realise this earlier was understandable - a flap of skin had covered the nail's puncture wound.

Although Wright experienced very little discomfort when he trained between the injury and his surgery, in hindsight he admits his fear of being sidelined again may have convinced him his foot was fine.

"Looking back now, after being sidelined for so long, that was probably why I didn't take it more seriously or tell anyone at the club," Wright, 21, said.

"I just didn't want to think I might be injured again."

Wright was also surprised by how long it took him to recover after his surgery.

"It took me a couple of weeks to get back into doing anything really," he said.

"I thought I would be up and about fairly quickly but this has made me realise how much you use the bottom of your foot."

Fortunately, Wright's luck on the injury front finally seems to have turned.

Cartilage damage in his right shoulder limited him to eight games last year, with North booking him in for season-ending surgery after he broke down again while warming up for its round 14 clash with Port Adelaide.

But Saunders told AFL.com.au he expected Wright would be fit to play in North's round two NAB Cup game in two-and-a-half weeks' time.

"Sam’s been back into full training for quite some time now," Saunders said.

"It’s just a matter of getting the volume of that full training that we’d like him to have before he plays."

Wright, himself, is content his foot and shoulder troubles are now "100 per cent". After dropping to 79kg after his shoulder surgery, an intensive summer in the gym has him weighing 84-85kg, up from 82kg last season.

Understandably, his focus now is on returning to the field and working his way back into form.

However, after playing almost permanently in the Kangaroos' forward line since 2010, Wright says the fierce competition for spots in North's attack may mean he plays on the wing - where he has been playing in game simulation drills - in spurts on the ball or in defence.

But Wright could not care where he plays in 2012, just as long as he is on the field.

"I felt in my second year, 2010, I was playing my role and had cemented my spot in the forward line," he said.

"But last year was so frustrating with my shoulder, even more so because I felt I was just starting to find form and then my season was over.

"So this year I'm happy to play anywhere. (Coach Brad Scott) can throw me all over the park and I won't care."

Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him at Twitter @AFL_Nick.

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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs