Collingwood will regain Luke Ball for Saturday night’s must-win AFL match against unbeaten Geelong, but Alex Fasolo has become another long-term injury concern.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley is also fuming at Heath Shaw’s one-game suspension for striking after he was sucked in by Fremantle agitator Hayden Ballantyne.

The good news of Ball’s much-anticipated return from a knee reconstruction was offset by the announcement on Wednesday that Fasolo may not play again this season.

The forward, Collingwood’s second-highest goalkicker last season, aggravated a foot injury at training on Monday and will need surgery.

“He landed awkwardly on it on Monday and it’s obviously going to be an extended period out, which is not ideal,” Buckley said.

“Naviculars are notorious – we’ll err on the side of caution.

“There’s every likelihood they’ll need to put a pin in it.

“The rehab will be quite methodical and quite slow.”

Collingwood are enduring a hard run with injury.

“Clearly it’s a concern to us – quite a deal of them are more than soft tissue,” Buckley said.

“There are definitely some things for us to review and look at in the longer term.

“In the short term, you’d love to have more players available.

“Most clubs are missing key players – the injury status across the competition is fairly dire.”

Buckley also made it clear that Shaw’s suspension for punching Ballantyne in the groin had not gone down well.

“He understood it at the time – we made an issue of it at halftime,” Buckley said.

“It was unnecessary, it was poor timing for us in the situation of the game and it’s poor timing for us in the situation of our season.”

But Ball’s return is a much-needed positive for the Magpies, who are misfiring with a 4-3 record.

“Bally has been sorely missed, he’s a heart-and-soul type player and his hardness in and around contests has an impact,” said Buckley.

“But he’s not going to come in and be the panacea, he’s going to be part of the solution.”

Buckley is also confident that Ball’s body will stand up to the rigours of the in-and-under midfield role that he plays so well.