Dustin Martin pictured on first day back to full training with Richmond

Dustin Martin has returned to training with his Richmond teammates in a promising sign the superstar Tiger is edging closer to an AFL return.

The 30-year-old joined the squad in a light closed session at Punt Road on Tuesday afternoon, his third appearance at the AFL club in four days.

The three-time Norm Smith Medallist and triple-premiership player made his surprise return to Richmond on Saturday morning, then completed a running session with Josh Caddy on Monday.

Martin had been granted personal leave and stepped away from football for an indefinite period after round one.

He has been grieving the death of his father Shane, who died in New Zealand in December.

Martin had also returned from a lacerated kidney suffered in round 18 last season that ended his season prematurely.

The Tigers have missed Martin sorely in their 2-4 start to the AFL season but have not put any time frame on his return.

Coach Damien Hardwick was tight-lipped on Sunday night, after on when his superstar might play again.

“It was good, nice to see him,” Hardwick said.

“Once we know, you’ll know.”

An immediate return for 2017 Brownlow Medallist Martin appears extremely unlikely as Richmond will travel to Perth to play West Coast on Friday.

They return to Melbourne in round eight to play Collingwood at the MCG on May 7.