COLLINGWOOD has admitted star midfielder Dane Swan has been playing through a heel complaint, with the Brownlow medallist not certain to face Adelaide after the Magpies' bye this weekend.

 

Swan, who spent much of Sunday's loss to Essendon at the MCG playing forward, has also pulled up with more generalised foot soreness this week, according to director of football Rodney Eade.

 

"We’ll be managing him over the next week or so and hopefully he’ll be all right for Adelaide," Eade told collingwoodfc.com.au.

 

"His heel, which he’s been carrying for a couple of weeks, is a little bit sore and he’s got some foot soreness at the same time."

 

Defender Nick Maxwell, who recently returned from a four-week lay-off with a calf injury, will have an ankle injury assessed on Tuesday night.

 

The former captain injured his left ankle during the second quarter against the Bombers but returned to the field and played out the match.

 

 

"He’s had some scans and he will see a specialist tonight," Eade said.

 

The Magpies are confident crafty forward Jamie Elliott will be in the mix to return from a hamstring injury against the Crows after missing two matches.

 

Prized recruit Matthew Scharenberg, meanwhile, will face a fitness test after the bye.

 

The No.6 selection at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft has not played this season after undergoing surgery on both feet.