Young key forward Paddy McCartin is set to be available for this Sunday’s game against Gold Coast after overcoming a minor knee issue.
The 21-year-old missed last Friday night’s win over North Melbourne after pulling up with soreness from a training session last week, following a knock in the loss to Adelaide in Round 12.
St Kilda GM Football Performance Jamie Cox said McCartin was cleared of damage late last week and trained strongly on Tuesday morning to put his hand up for a return.
“Paddy got that knock in the Adelaide game which just flared after last Wednesday’s training and flared enough to make the doctors want to check to see if there was anything sinister,” Cox told saints.com.au on Tuesday afternoon.
“Fortunately the scans came back clear, but as a consequence, we’ve just managed it symptomatically.
“He didn’t train over the weekend but trained well today and should be available for selection.”
Midfielder-forward Nathan Wright is set to miss another game with the shoulder injury he sustained at Adelaide Oval a fortnight ago.
“'Wrighty' damaged his AC joint in the loss at Adelaide Oval,” Cox said.
“He missed last week’s game against North Melbourne and is still battling a bit in terms of range of movement, so he’s likely to miss another one unfortunately.”
Emerging key defender Hugh Goddard has successfully undergone surgery to repair ligaments in his foot.
After returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon earlier this season, the injury-plagued 21-year-old won’t be seen again in 2017 as he begins another long rehabilitation program.
