DAVID Armitage could be out until after St Kilda’s round 10 bye with the midfielder still in hospital being treated for a gaping wound on his left knee.
There is no structural damage to the knee he lacerated in the Saints’ round four loss to Adelaide but the threat of infection remains.
St Kilda initially hoped the 25-year-old would miss another fortnight but the club tempered its expectations in Tuesday’s injury list, listing him as three to four weeks away.
Armitage has been in hospital for more than a week but is expected to be released in the next 24 hours.
The former first-round pick will rest for the remainder of this week once discharged while his teammates are in New Zealand for Friday's Anzac Day clash with the Brisbane Lions at Westpac Stadium.
He is expected to resume light training next week if his recovery continues to go to plan.
He sustained the nasty cut when he landed on the bottom of Patrick Dangerfield's boot and missed last weekend’s clash against Essendon.
If Armitage misses the Saints' next four games, he would next play Collingwood on Friday, May 30.
