Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury's latest setback is worse than first feared, with the Magpies midfielder tipped to spend at least a month on the sidelines.
The Magpies confirmed this week that Pendleury wouldn't suit up for Friday's clash with the Western Bulldogs due to an arm issue.
The 36-year-old underwent scans following the club's Round 11 win over Fremantle last week and was initially hopeful of featuring against the Dogs, however, his selection prospects were dashed by Wednesday following a failed fitness test.
The Norm Smith medallist was seen as a likely chance to return in Collingwoid's following game against Melbourne for the annual King's Birthday clash, but new scans are said to have pushed Pendlebury's return further back.
Those scans have shown further damage to Pendlebury's arm, with a partial tear of his bicep tendon muscle appearing.
The injury is expected to see the veteran Magpie miss the King's Birthday match and Collingwood's subsequent meeting with North Melbourne before the club's Round 15 bye.
โScott was cleared to train on Wednesday and while he got through most of the session, it was during the last tackling drill where he tested it and felt soreness return in that bicep. Further assessment including an MRI revealed a partial tendon tear of the bicep muscle,โ Collingwood High Performance Manager Jarrod Wade explained.
โIt's a slight setback for Scott who will rehabilitate his bicep over the coming weeks, and we expect to see him return to full fitness following our BYE in Round 15.
โScott is the ultimate professional and in positive news for him, he will be able to keep his general fitness and remain on a running program during his recovery.โ
Collingwood are scheduled to return from their break against Gold Coast the week after on Saturday, June 29, while a clash against Essendon is set to take place the following Friday.
Currently on 394 games, Pendlebury's potential return against the Suns would have him in line to bring up his 400th AFL game in Round 21 against Carlton.
The onballer's fresh setback adds to a long list of absence Magpies, with Jordan De Goey (abdominal), Tom Mitchell (foot), Brody Mihocek (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (vascular), Will Hoskin-Elliott (hamstring), Joe Richards (foot) and Mason Cox (knee), among others, currently sidelined.
Collingwood hosts the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Friday, and with a win, they could move back into the top four.
