JONATHAN Brown will be back training as early as Monday after successful surgery on his fractured cheekbone on Wednesday night.

Although the Brisbane Lions skipper can resume running next week, he will not be available to play until the round three match against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on April 14.

Coach Michael Voss said Brown was in good spirits on Thursday morning following his surgery.

He said the 30-year-old was cursing his bad luck but had already turned his attention to the future.

"He's up and moving around and apart from a bit of swelling you probably wouldn't notice anything different," Voss said.

"His mode has already shifted into when he can start training, and that's apparently around Monday. The cheekbone injury means he can still eat healthy (food) and train properly and it's just a time thing for him to be able to get over the break."

Brown underwent surgery for the third time in less than 12 months for a facial fracture after an accidental knee from teammate Matt Maguire in a marking contest at training on Wednesday.

It was his left cheekbone, the opposite side to last year's collisions with Fremantle's Luke McPharlin and teammate Mitch Clark.

Voss said he feared the worst when Wednesday's accident happened.

Although admitting it was only human nature to be concerned for Brown's long-term health, Voss said he had the ultimate faith in the Lions' medical staff when it came time for the champion forward to hit the park again.

"We have the best medical team, I believe, in the country," Voss said.

"He's going to get the absolute attention he needs and when he walks out there our members and fans should know what's needed to be done has been done, and what's needed to be checked has been checked, and that he can go out and play football and lead this team again.

"We've got to eliminate all possibilities to make sure we're doing our due diligence and that he doesn't have that (doubt) in the back of his mind.

"The psychology of the champion is that he gets knocked down, he gets up, he gets knocked down, he finds a different way and keeps going.

"The reason why he's a champion is because he doesn't look at all those risks. He goes out there and competes and he gets knocked down and gets back up. You won't see Jonathan Brown quitting, that's for sure."

Voss said losing his captain so close to the start of the season was a huge blow and the Lions needed others to step up.

He said the young group travelling to play Adelaide in Alice Springs on Saturday had an ideal chance to press their claims.

"The next player has to step in there and we need more from more players. An even team contribution is something we require," he said.

"Hopefully what it does over the next four or five weeks in his absence is that we can have a number of players that can give us that group presence, and when he comes back he can only add to that."

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting