North Melbourne debutante Alan Obst is upbeat about returning to the side after a nightmare start to his senior career.

Obst, who was elevated from the rookie list, was playing his maiden game against West Coast at Carrara last Saturday night when he suffered a heavy knock in the first quarter.

He was diagnosed with a broken rib and punctured lung and hospitalised on the Gold Coast for two days.

But he was then faced with a 17-hour drive back to Melbourne as doctors ruled out flying.

"It wasn't a dream start really for a debut," Obst said. "I got a knee to the back of the ribs and I was pretty sore.

"I kind of fought out the first quarter and then I was just no good.

"It just felt like severe winding and I was just kind of waiting for it to go away and it didn't unfortunately."

To compound the injury, Obst spent his 21st birthday on the Monday after the game in hospital.

Obst said he expected to be out of action for up to a month.

"I just have to take it easy this week and see how we go.

"When I get back I should be sweet. I'll come back through the VFL and hopefully I'll get another chance come the end of the year sometime," he said.

"It was like a roller-coaster ride - I got in the game, got injured - I just didn't know what to think.

"I was thinking, maybe footy's not for me - but we're good now, we'll be back in a couple of weeks," he said.

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