MAX King’s long awaited return to the game has been put on hold for another week.
It can be revealed that King won’t play against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The St Kilda spearhead had been pencilled in for his first game of the season, but developed some soreness in recent days and underwent precautionary scans over the weekend.
King booted 52 goals last season before a December training incident led to a shoulder reconstruction and months on the sidelines.
Speaking before training yesterday, coach Ross Lyon admitted his gun goalkicker had suffered a minor setback.
“He’s been pretty good. He just had a little niggle on the weekend,” Lyon said.
“Just niggles. Sore arm, sore butt, sore groin. Niggles. I think someone corked him.
“I’ve got no idea (if King will play), to be truthful. He’s going to train today and then train on Friday … and then we’ll make a decision. It’s a big decision because he hasn’t played.”
But Lyon and the Saints, understandably cautious, last night decided to pull the pin on King’s comeback.
While Lyon is yearning for King’s height and marking power inside 50, the Saints will get some attacking reinforcements, with Anthony Caminiti set to return from suspension to face the Crows.
Jade Gresham (knee) and Rowan Marshall (ankle) are expected to play despite training away from the main group yesterday.