Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom will miss the Pies' clash with Essendon on Friday night after suffering a ruptured testicle at training on Wednesday.
Sidebottom was accidentally kicked in the groin, and was taken from training before finding out he had the injury.
The vice-captain will have surgery on Wednesday night, and will miss his first game since round four, 2016.
โSteele was in clear discomfort but the extent of the injury and an anticipated recovery period wonโt be known until after the surgery,โ Collingwood GM of Football Geoff Walsh told the club's website.
โIt is certainly disappointing for Steele but the upside is that we have the break between the end of the home and away season and finals to give him added time to recover.โ
