Gold Coast key defender Sam Collins has been dealt an injury blow which will see him miss an extended period of time.
SUNS Head Physiotherapist Lindsay Bull told the Alpha Sport Injury Update Collins had sustained an injury to his hip and would need time out from training to rehabilitate.
“Sam’s undergone an MRI yesterday after experiencing a little bit of low-grade hip pain,” Bull said.
“We’ve found that there’s a stress reaction in Sam’s femur so unfortunately that means we’re going to need to offload him for a little period of time before we can then reload him and get him back into training.
“Hopefully with Sam we expect to see him back soon after the bye.”
Touk Miller will be monitored and assessed throughout the week after missing the match against Port Adelaide with injury.
“Touk’s been managing a heel injury over the last few weeks and didn’t quite come up for the game last week,” Bull said.
“We decided to take a conservative approach with Touk and try and break the cycle of him continually making that more and more sore.
“He’s definitely improved for the weekend off but at this stage he’s still a week by week proposition as to when he returns to be available for selection.”
In positive news, the club will welcome back three players from the rehab group into the NEAFL this weekend.
Callum Ah Chee is one of the inclusions who will wear the club’s indigenous guernsey in his NEAFL return.
“Cal had a really mild quad strain a few weeks ago and he’s back pending training this week to be available for selection,” Bull said.
“Also Brayden Crossley who injured his hamstring, he’s going to train fully this week as well.
“Sam Fletcher too had a mild quad strain and he’s due back this weekend as well.
“It’s exciting for those three boys after a little stint in rehab.”
After undergoing surgery on his corked quad last week, Pearce Hanley has shown gradual improvement but is still unlikely to be available for selection.
“Each day he’s able to do a little bit more than what he’s been able to do the previous days,” Bull said.
“But we’ll continue to work with Pearce over the coming weeks to get him back doing everything and get him back into training.”
