Essendon captain's Jobe Watson will miss tomorrow night's AFL clash against Carlton at the MCG with a continuing hamstring injury, however coach James Hird was eager to quell fears there was no long term problem.

It will be Watson's fourth missed match in a row, but the coach said he will be available to play in the big match against Collingwood next week.

Watson had been expressing concerns over the injury this week and so the decision was made not to put him at risk.