INJURY-plagued Collingwood big man Ben Reid has been sent to Germany to be treated by the doctor of European soccer giant Bayern Munich as he searches for answers to his ongoing soft-tissue problems.
A series of calf, quad and hamstring issues restricted the All Australian defender to just four games last season and he suffered another calf setback at training last month.
The 25-year-old had been about a week away from resuming full training when he hurt his 'good' left calf during a warm-up exercise.
Reid is now in Munich hoping to solve the problems, Collingwood director of football Neil Balme confirmed to the club's website.
"We have sent Ben over with a club physician … in order to determine why Ben has experienced several muscle strains," Balme said.
"While they are not significant, we are concerned that there could be underlying problems.
"Ben went over on Sunday and received his first round of treatment on Monday. He will return the following Sunday.
"We won’t have any timelines or results on Ben’s health until he returns to the club.
"The treatment has been approved by the AFL medicos."
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The 2010 premiership defender is being treated by Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, whose clinic Balme is familiar with after seeking treatment for retired Geelong defender Max Rooke's hamstring problems in 2007.
Reid endured a horror run with injury last year, starting with a quad issue on the eve of the season that kept him out until July. He then injured a hamstring in his first game back in the VFL.
A calf injury also meant the 195cm Magpie didn't reach AFL ranks until round 18 but just four rounds later his season was cut short by another hamstring injury.
Reid managed 87 matches between 2010-13 but is currently stuck on 99 games, with his pre-season again compromised by injury.