AFTER a horror run of injuries that's confined him to the rehab group for much of his first 18 months at Collingwood, Matthew Scharenberg is happy just to be playing again.

Since joining the Magpies via pick No.6 in the 2013 national draft, Scharenberg has been sidelined by foot problems that required surgery last February to remove sesamoid bones, and a ruptured left anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in a VFL game late last August.

The South Australian has played just eight VFL games in his time at the Westpac Centre – five late last season and this year's past three rounds.

But he is not dwelling on the tough start to his AFL career, preferring to focus all his energies on pushing for a senior debut sooner rather than later.

"It's just great to be back out playing footy again after such a long time in rehab, I'm very happy to be back," Scharenberg told AFL.com.au.

"(Returning in) eight months is pretty quick for your standard ACL so I was very happy with how it all went.

"My knee is really good, it's holding up really well and it's been recovering well from the games. I couldn't be happier with how it's been going.

"Like all young players I hope to play (senior football) as soon as I can.

"For me now it's just about putting my best foot forward in the VFL and obviously getting that match fitness as well after spending a fair bit of time out of the game."

The 19-year-old is also fully over his foot problems, saying they have not troubled him since he returned in the VFL late last July.

He also said his first season and a half at Collingwood had been made a lot easier by regular rehab group companions such as Brent Macaffer, Ben Reid and fellow 2013 top-10 pick Nathan Freeman.

Macaffer ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament a day after Scharenberg suffered his knee injury and was a "massive" support for the former Glenelg player as they endured the unrelenting drudgery of rehab together.

Macaffer is yet to return and this week underwent arthroscopic surgery that is expected to sideline him for at least another three or four weeks.

But Scharenberg is confident the 2010 premiership player will be back soon.

"If anyone can deal with those sort of setbacks it will be 'Caff'," he says.

"I've observed from working with him closely that he is just so professional and hard-working, so I'm sure he'll be fine.

"It's just a little bit of a setback."

Scharenberg is due to come out of contract at the end of this season and has already been linked to Adelaide.

But the South Australian is yet to give much thought to his football future.

"To be honest it's been well in the back of my mind," he says.

"It's all been about getting my knee right and now that I've finally done that I'm just excited to be back playing and hopefully (I can) play senior footy and go from there."