GEELONG forward Steven Motlop will fly to London to meet with a specialist after his injured knee failed to respond to treatment over the pre-season.    

 

The young star, who kicked 44 goals in 2013, has been nursing knee tendonitis, but a modified program was not delivering results as the NAB Challenge approached.   

 

Geelong head of sport science and medicine Peter Stanton said the club was hopeful the London trip would improve the 22-year-old's condition.

 

"We are sending Steven to who we believe is the world’s best knee tendon doctor in London," Stanton said.

 

"We had hoped that by managing Steven’s workload he could overcome the problem but it isn’t progressing as we would have liked.

 

"Steven will commence a program once he returns from London with the intention to increase his workload in the lead up to the season."

 

Motlop played 24 games in 2013 and was a crucial member of the Cats' forward line, also pushing up the ground to average 18 possessions and 4.3 inside 50s per match.

 

Geelong takes on Collingwood in the opening NAB Challenge match on February 12.