COLLINGWOOD will be without young midfielder James Aish for at least two weeks after he underwent surgery on his fractured cheekbone.

Aish was involved in a clash with Hawthorn's Daniel Howe after attacking a loose ball with courage in his 50th game and was admitted to hospital with a depressed fracture.

Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh told the club's website it was relatively good news for the 21-year-old, who was a chance to be available for the Queen's Birthday clash with Melbourne in round 12.

"He came off second best, in terms of the injury, and he has had some surgery to pop that cheekbone out, which means he will miss two weeks," Walsh said.

"He hasn’t had to have a plate put in it. It was a pretty straightforward procedure, which is good."

The Magpies hope to have key players Ben Reid and Travis Varcoe available straight after the club's round 13 bye.

Reid has a quad complaint and Varcoe had a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury last week at training.

Defender Adam Oxley is also set for surgery to fix lingering groin and hip problems and could miss the next eight weeks.



Oxley has played 31 games for the Magpies but has not played a senior game this season.