COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse is uncertain when Luke Ball will return to the field after the star recruit suffered a recurring groin injury last week.

Ball will miss Monday's Queen's Birthday holiday clash with Melbourne after injuring his groin in last Sunday's narrow victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Malthouse would not be drawn on when Ball would return. The 26-year-old has played all 11 games so far this season after a 142-game career with St Kilda.

“Is it the same injury? Probably. How long does that take to get over? I'm not too sure,” he said.

“I think players who have an early history of (injury in a particular area) will have a long history of it. What they learn to do is manage their bodies better.

“They know their bodies a bit better at 26 than what they do at, say, 18. It's also management by the fitness coordinators and the science staff and so forth.”

Malthouse said he wasn't a “soothsayer” when asked to estimate how long Ball would be sidelined, but said he would not be rushed back.

“We’ve taken consideration of his history and we’ve been managing it right through,” he said.

“So it won’t change. I’d like to think we’re doing it right at the moment.

“I’m not going to make any predictions on this ... he’s out injured at the moment, and how long that takes to get over, we will not be playing him until he’s right.

“I don’t know whether that’s next week, the week after or four weeks.”

Ben Johnson is another who will miss at least this week’s clash.

Malthouse suggested his ankle injury may be linked to the broken leg he suffered last season and a possible weakness in the area.

In a further blow for the Magpies, a "training mishap" has seen the club forced to withdraw Shane O'Bree from the squad of 25 for Monday's match with the Demons. Brad Dick is O'Bree's replacement.

Collingwood trained at Victoria Park on Friday morning, and while Malthouse would not be drawn on which player would drop out of the squad immediately afterwards, he emphasised the difficulty of selecting 25 players four days out from the match.

“We’ll be changing ours now,” he said of his squad.

“We’ve already lost a player so we’ll be advising the AFL and Melbourne of a change ... but that’s a training mishap.”

While it has been a disappointing week for the Pies on the injury front, things seem to be looking up regarding the future of one of their brightest stars.

Speaking on Magpie Radio, young midfielder Steele Sidebottom - believed to be on the radar of several clubs including cross-town rival Essendon - has confirmed his allegiance to Collingwood.

“I am going to be black and white for the remainder of my career,” Sidebottom said.

“I am not out of contract until the end of the year, so I won’t have to worry about it until the end of the year.”

Collingwood’s chief of football Geoff Walsh confirmed the club was working with Sidebottom’s management to secure the rising star.

“We are currently having discussions with Steele’s management and we hope to lock something away in the near future.”