Latrell Mitchell's Sydney Roosters teammates have urged patience with the 19-year-old after the emerging star was given time off to visit family in Taree last weekend.
Mitchell is expected to make his return in the Roosters' Anzac Day NRL blockbuster against St George Illawarra after he was rested from last Friday's win over Newcastle.
Aidan Guerra, who knows all too well the ups and downs of being a first grade footballer after he was last year dropped a couple of months after playing State of Origin, said Mitchell was always going to take time to get the best out of himself.
"It's a rollercoaster," Guerra said.
"It's a tough sport whether you've been in it for 10 years or whether you've been in it for two years.
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"Everything's new to you when you're young. It's all a learning curve and sometimes there's ups and sometimes there's downs.
"We hope this little down moment for Latrell sparks something and everyone sees his potential."
While pressure can have a negative effect on some youngsters, Mitchell Aubusson said Mitchell deserved praise for the manner in which he had carried himself.
Aubusson, 29, said the spotlight on players had increased exponentially since he debuted a decade ago, and Mitchell was in a position few can appreciate having been earmarked for great things before even debuting.
"It has changed. As a young kid coming through, there wasn't as much scrutiny around performances," Aubusson said.
"I didn't have the best start to my career and I was lucky enough to keep motoring on and it took time for me to work it out.
"For Latrell he's a star of our game and every great player has rests and needs to work a bit on his game."
Meanwhile, Roosters back-rower Ryan Matterson has been ruled out for four to six weeks after scans confirmed he suffered ankle ligament damage against the Knights.
