EXILED Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey's ban from the club could be over soon with Magpies president Eddie McGuire predicting a "pretty early return".

De Goey was suspended indefinitely from the senior side on February 19 after being caught drink driving. The 21-year-old was forced to train with the VFL squad at night, after spending his days working as a landscaper.

McGuire conceded the Pies couldn't afford to have a player of De Goey's quality on the sidelines for long if they wanted to contend.

"There's a number of factors there that we'll take into account. He's been punished enough and he's learning his lesson," McGuire told Sportsday SA on Wednesday.

"We will do what's right for the club. Clearly we're not in a position where we can waste good players. We need to have everyone up and going for us to be a chance in 2018 but it is a long season.

"We'll get him physically right, we'll get him mentally right and we'll get him spiritually right and when he's at his optimum to play again – because clearly he wasn't, he was out drinking on the weekend on that occasion, or at least drinking and driving – he'll be right to go.

"I think he'll make a pretty early return to our team."

Collingwood's season begins against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday, March 24.

De Goey has lined up in 50 matches since he was drafted at No.5 in 2014. 

He had some superb performances last year, including booting four second-half goals against West Coast in round 18 to help an undermanned Magpies outfit produce an impressive comeback at Etihad Stadium.

He was influential in an intraclub last month, winning plenty of football as an onballer.