Collingwood midfielder Daniel Wells is hoping for a late season return after deciding against surgery to repair the knee he injured in the match against Sydney last Friday night.

It has been confirmed that Wells hurt the posterior and medial ligaments in his left knee in the third quarter of the match, after which he took no further part. The silky veteran had kicked three goals in what was his first AFL match of 2019.

Wells saw orthopaedic surgeon Julian Feller on Sunday.

The decision not to operate means that Wells will have the knee initially placed in a brace for a number of weeks before a gradual return to running and strengthening of the leg.

A complete recovery is expected to take up to three months.

“Surgery was an option but this course firstly allows Daniel to make a full recovery and, secondly, keeps alive the possibility of a return to playing in 2019,” Collingwood GM of Football, Geoff Walsh, said.

“The recovery has to be strong and a priority, which it will be, but Daniel has the prospect of playing again to aim for.”

Wells has played 15 matches for Collingwood and a career total of 258 matches.