TALENTED Magpie Jamie Elliott has successfully undergone right hamstring surgery and is expected to be fit for day one of pre-season.
Elliott went under the knife on Tuesday, and a Collingwood spokesperson told AFL.com.au the 25-year-old would be fit when the Pies come together in preparation for next year.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Elliott would not train again until 2019 after again hurting his left hamstring.
Elliott's season is officially over after the operation.
He is out of contract at season's end.
MEDICAL ROOM Who's on your club's injury list?
"Jamie had surgery today on the hamstring he injured," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said.
"We thought it's probably wisest to tip him out of training right now, get it fixed and undergo a long, steady rehab process.
"We won't see Jamie for the rest of the year."
It's been a torrid year for the 25-year-old, who has endured multiple setbacks that stem back to the left ankle surgery he underwent last November.
He wasn't expected to resume full training until January this year after the operation, which was required after off-season rest didn't rectify his soreness.
Then, left hamstring problems stalled his multiple attempts at stringing together runs of games at VFL level – he managed four, none consecutive – throughout the season before his latest breakdown on July 29.
Elliott faces an uncertain future at Collingwood after missing all of 2016 with a back injury and now, all of 2018 with ankle and hamstring complaints.
Meanwhile, defender Jeremy Howe won't face Port Adelaide on Saturday after failing to train on Tuesday.
Howe is suffering from a deeply corked thigh that has restricted his ability to train in recent weeks.
"Jeremy had a procedure on Tuesday to drain his corkie," Walsh told collingwoodfc.com.au.
"Mother nature is not moving as quickly as we would like, so he has had that procedure. It will unfortunately put him out of action for this week."
Howe hasn't played since being concussed in the first quarter of the Pies' round 19 clash with Richmond.
Elliott joins Ben Reid (calf), Matt Scharenberg (knee), Tim Broomhead (broken leg), Lynden Dunn (knee), Daniel Wells (foot) and Kayle Kirby (heart condition) as Pies ruled out for the year.