ESSENDON youngster Scott Gumbleton looks likely to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his collarbone in the VFL on Sunday afternoon.

Gumbleton, 19, underwent x-rays on Sunday evening following the injury sustained in the second half of the Bendigo Bombers' clash with Geelong at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.

The scans confirmed the fracture, and the highly-touted key position prospect is likely to undergo surgery later in the week to have a plate inserted, according to the club's website.

The young Western Australian has been troubled by injuries in his short career, after being drafted by the club with its first selection (No.2 overall) in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.

His debut season was plagued by a hamstring complaint that robbed him of availability in the middle of the year, but he broke through for five senior games towards the end of the home-and-away fixture.

This year, more trouble with his hamstrings, as well as issues with his knee, had kept him to just one match prior to Sunday.

The club recently moved to secure the services of the young talent for another two years, with Gumbleton agreeing to terms to keep him a Bomber until at least the end of 2009.