Luckless key defender Lachlan Keeffe has been forced back into the medical room after sustaining a bruised kidney in the VFL on Saturday.

In his first game since undergoing a knee reconstruction 12 months prior, Keeffe landed awkwardly on Essendon’s Joe Daniher late in the final quarter of Collingwood’s nine-point win. He played out the match but scans have revealed that he has a bruised kidney.

Coach Nathan Buckley said that while Keeffe’s knee held up fine, his kidney injury will mean that he will be absent when the Magpies take on the Northern Blues in the VFL this Saturday.

“From a knee perspective he is excellent but he unfortunately landed on an opposition player (Essendon’s Joe Daniher) and bruised his kidney.”

Keeffe will undergo further assessment from the club’s medical staff.

Better news is the prospective return of Heath Shaw against the Lions on Friday night.

The dashing defender was due to return from a one-game suspension last week but was forced to remain on the sidelines with a back complaint.

He will be tested by the club’s fitness staff prior to Thursday night’s team selection.

View Collingwood’s full injury list here.

Tyson Goldsack (hip), Clinton Young (hamstring) and Dayne Beams (quad) will remain sidelined as they continue to recover from their respective injuries but the news is a little brighter for West Australian draftee Jackson Ramsay.

The 18-year-old is now only four weeks away from playing again after fracturing his wrist in the first round of the VFL against North Ballarat.

Ramsay is currently on the club’s long-term injury list.

View Collingwood’s full injury list here.