COLLINGWOOD forward Sean Rusling has suffered another injury setback, fracturing his cheekbone while playing for the Magpies VFL team on Saturday.

Rusling sustained the injury when he was involved in a heavy collision late in the match, according to the club website.

It is a bitter blow for Rusling who was playing his first match since recovering from shoulder surgery, the fourth such operation he has had in as many years.

Early reports indicated that the talented forward had suffered a reoccurrence of the shoulder injury, but it was later confirmed that Rusling had instead broken his cheekbone.

Collingwood VFL coach Gavin Brown told The Age newspaper that Rusling, who played in defence in Saturday's match against Coburg, had been one of the best on field before the collision.

"It's very disappointing because he was doing so well" Brown said.

"We played him across half-back and he was going well, so it was disappointing,"

Collingwood will release further updates on Rusling's condition throughout the week.