NORTH Melbourne forward Aaron Black has rejoined training and says he is “five or six weeks” away from resuming full contact drills.

The 24-year-old, who was hampered by niggles throughout the year, was sent in for post-season shoulder surgery along with vice-captain Jack Ziebell.

Black said his recovery was progressing as planned and his main aim over the summer is to improve his upper body strength and build up his legs.

“(I had surgery) about 10 weeks ago. It’s going along well, I’ve got full movement in my arm and now (I’m) just trying to get my strength back,” Black told NMFC.com.au on Tuesday.

“I can’t do full contact (training) probably until mid-January.

“The good thing, I guess, if you take a positive out of having shoulder problems, is that you do all the running while the boys are out there training.”

Black, who featured in every game in the 2014 season and booted 26 goals, said he was gradually regaining confidence after an injury-interrupted and frustrating year.

“It was pretty annoying because I wouldn’t be able to do weights or go out and do full training with the boys, it was just a lot of skill work,” he said.

“My output probably wasn’t as good as the year before, but a lot of that has to do with confidence in football.”

The 192cm forward said he was excited by the prospect of lining up alongside fellow big men Ben Brown and new recruit Jarrad Waite up forward.

“I’ve gotten along really well with ‘Waitey’ so far, he’s a good bloke and (his signing is) good for the club,” he said.

The competition for spots providing added enthusiasm and more incentives.

“It makes everyone train harder, play harder and it’s going to push the club forward which is a good thing,” he said.

Black said he was targeting a round one NAB Challenge return in March.

Stay tuned to NMFC.com.au for the full video interview with Black.