JAMIE Elliott has suffered another setback on his troublesome back and there is a possibility he will require surgery, which would sideline him for the rest of 2016.
The Magpies high flyer will visit a specialist next week to determine the best course of action.
The worst-case scenario for Elliott would be season-ending surgery.
The small forward re-injured his back during a training drill last Tuesday and the meeting will be used to plan out his rehabilitation from there.
Match preview: Collingwood v Geelong
"Jamie's recovery has been spasmodic," Magpies football manager Neil Balme told the club's website.
"Last week he felt a little uncomfortable with it and next week he will see a specialist with the aim of looking at what, if anything, more can be done to resolve this back issue."
Elliott has been battling a condition known as pars defect in his back and the club stated less than a month ago he was four to 12 weeks away from a return.
The Magpies initially chose to take Elliott out of training in late February to allow his back time to heal.
They were patient with his return to training and Elliott had started to make some inroads by early April.
Collingwood had a specific running plan set out for Elliott as it carefully managed his workload.
The star forward has not played a game for the Magpies this season and his chances of returning to the field in 2016 appear to be waning.
Elliott's forward line presence has been desperately missed this season, his absence compounded by Travis Cloke's form struggles.
Elliott led the Magpies' goalkicking in 2015, booting 35 majors for the season.
He has kicked 104 goals in 72 matches since making his debut in round nine, 2012.
