Emerging forward Darren Minchington will face a delayed start to the season after injuring his left knee.

The small forward sustained medial ligament damage during a VFL intra-club match with Sandringham on Saturday.

Minchington was one of 17 AFL-listed Saints to take part in the hitout, after overcoming an ankle injury that kept him sidelined prior to Christmas.

General Manager of Football Simon Lethlean said the small forward would be between four-six weeks.

“Thankfully the scans showed it wasn’t as serious as it could have been and he should be back training in a few weeks, which is a positive,” Lethlean said.

“Darren was just starting to hit his straps over the past month after missing a large chunk of the second half of the 2017 season with an ankle injury.”

Minchington has played 28 games in the red, white and black -  playing five of those in 2017.