Star St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven is ‘really likely’ to return against Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, while another midfield ace David Armitage will need to prove his fitness later in the week.
Steven, 27, has missed the last two wins against Brisbane and Collingwood, after sustaining the injury in the dying minutes of the loss to West Coast in Round 2.
Saints GM Football Performance Jamie Cox indicated that Steven was on track to bolster the engine room against an onball division comprising Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
“Jack Steven has been training really strongly and looks really likely to return, but we just need to see how Jack comes up later in the week,” Cox told saints.com.au on Tuesday night.
“I’d say things are definitely heading in the right way for him which is terrific.”
After missing the trip to Perth and the win over the Lions in Round 3, Armitage returned against the Magpies on Easter Sunday.
Cox said the experienced Queenslander came from the ground late in the game and will need to pass a fitness test on Thursday before being declared fit to face the Cats.
“The only down side on the injury front from the weekend looks to be Dave Armitage,” he said.
“He might have aggravated his abdominal strain and had some body cramps late in the game. We’ll have to see how Dave comes up later in the week.”
Injury Update 18/4/17
David Armitage (groin) Test
Jack Steven (punctured lung) Test
Nick Coughlan (foot stress fracture) 1 week
