Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is optimistic defender Jeremy Howe could return for the club’s final home-and-away match against Fremantle.
Howe will miss a third straight game due to a badly corked thigh, but Buckley says Tuesday’s procedure to drain the corkie went well and has given the former Demon a chance to feature next week.
“There hasn’t been often that surgery has been required to remove it,” Buckley told SEN’s Whateley.
“I just spoke to Howey (Jeremy Howe) then, the procedure went really well, his flexion in his knee has doubled already, so the impingement of the swelling was significant.
“He’ll be doing whatever he can do to get right for Round 23. He’s doing his bit to get right for Freo.”
Buckley also stated that star midfielder Adam Treloar is making good progress from his hamstring tears, but still has work to do if he wants to return for the Magpies’ finals campaign.
“I think we’ve said all along that it’s always a bit of long shot (returning before finals), a bit of a Hail Mary,” he added.
“He had a significant injury, he’s had some surgery, and he had a kick and a catch with the main group on Tuesday so he was up and about.
“That last 10-15 percent is quite significant, the difference between being able to run and being able to sprint, change direction, bend over and he is a very ballistic player.
“He’s got a bit of work to do over the next couple of weeks, we definitely won’t see him this week or next.
“It’ll depend on what level of training we get from him as to whether we he is a live chance beyond that.”
Collingwood take on Port Adelaide in a crunch Round 22 encounter at the MCG this Saturday afternoon.
Listen to Nathan Buckley’s chat on SEN’s Whateley with Gerard Whateley in the player below