Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom will miss the round 23 match against Essendon on Friday night after having a testicle ruptured during training on Wednesday.

Sidebottom was accidentally kicked in the groin, left the track and was subsequently found to have suffered a rupture. He will have surgery this evening.

“Steele was in clear discomfort but the extent of the injury and an anticipated recovery period won’t be known until after the surgery,” Collingwood GM of Football, Geoff Walsh, said.

“It is certainly disappointing for Steele but the upside is that we have the break between the end of the home and away season and finals to give him added time to recover.”

Sidebottom, winner of the Copeland Trophy in 2017 and 2018, has not missed a Collingwood match since round four of 2016.

His absence on Friday night will bring an end to a consecutive games streak of 88 matches.