Dale Thomas set to bolster Pies' run to the finals with late season return
COLLINGWOOD's finals hopes have been enhanced with star Magpie Dale Thomas nominating round 20 as his likely return date from injury.
Thomas had surgery on his troublesome ankle in May but joined in main training with teammates on Thursday.
Thomas told Nova 100 he expects to be available to play in two weeks time.
"I reckon a couple of weeks so when the boys are up in Sydney (round 20)," Thomas said.
"I think that's next weekend maybe. I'll hopefully have a run around (either) next weekend or the weekend after, (but) it probably won't be in the seniors."
"I don't expect there's going to be any issue there," Walsh said last month.
"I don't think this is going to be drawn out because I know Dale wants to re-contract with the club, and certainly the club wants to re-contract 'Thommo'."
Collingwood faces a crunch game against Essendon on Sunday afternoon at the MCG, with Magpies skipper Nick Maxwell expecting the Bombers to come out all guns blazing in support of embattled coach James Hird.
Ben Guthrie is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie
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