ADELAIDE sharpshooter Chris Knights will be sidelined for six weeks after scans confirmed he has a stress fracture in his left foot.
The 23-year-old was initially diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, forcing him to wear a moon boot to protect his foot.
"Late last week Chris was aware of pain and swelling further down the foot towards the toes. An investigation on the weekend revealed a stress fracture," club doctor Andrew Potter told afc.com.au.
"Chris will continue to have treatment for both plantar fasciitis and the stress fracture."
The injury to Knights comes after pre-season injuries to promising young defender Andy Otten, veteran forward Brett Burton and midfielder Nathan van Berlo.
Burton recently underwent knee surgery, van Berlo has a stress fracture in his back while Otten will miss all of the 2010 season after rupturing his ACL.
In some good news for the Crows, Nathan Bock, Kurt Tippett and Scott Thompson are expected to play in Friday night's NAB Challenge match against Collingwood in Alice Springs.
ADELAIDE veteran Brett Burton will be sidelined for up to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old returned from the Crows' training camp on the Gold Coast on Tuesday night after reporting lingering soreness following last Saturday's NAB Cup loss to Port Adelaide.
He saw a specialist and immediately underwent an arthroscopy to repair cartilage damage.
Adelaide football operations general manager Phil Harper said Burton was disappointed but remained positive about being ready for the start of the premiership season.
"Brett hasn't missed a beat with training over the summer and he approaches his rehabilitation with the right attitude, so we hope to have him back on the track as quickly as possible," Harper said.
"He will be in a race against time to be available for round one but we have faith in our physical performance team to give him the best chance possible of taking the field against Freo."
Burton underwent a reconstruction on his left knee after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Collingwood in round 15, 2008.
The high-flying forward returned to the Crows' side late last season.
THE Adelaide Crows' new $21m training and entertainment centre at AAMI Stadium will be known as Westpac Centre under a five-year naming rights deal announced on Monday.
The facility which opened last October is a unique world-class complex situated on the eastern side of AAMI Stadium.
"The new facility is much more than a football training venue," Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said.
"It offers a unique facility with so many options, to both business and the community, here in South Australia, nationally and internationally."
"So it is both appropriate and significant that Westpac, which is such a respected brand and a business leader, has seen fit to partner with us in our world class development."
The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
Westpac has been a corporate partner of the Adelaide Football Club since 1999.
ADELAIDE star Jason Porplyzia will miss the club's NAB Cup opener against Port Adelaide on February 13 due to a pelvic injury.
Speaking on Adelaide radio station FIVEaa, Crows coach Neil Craig said the classy forward would be on a modified training program for the next two weeks.
"Jason's just got a problem with his pelvis, so we've had to back him off," Craig said.
"Up until then he ran a personal best in his 3km time trial, which is a big plus for him. We just have to be patient with him, but unless something goes wrong I'm really positive he'll be available for the second round of the NAB Cup."
SIMON Goodwin has been named Adelaide captain for a third season.
The 32-year-old enjoyed an excellent 2009 which saw him selected in the All-Australian team for a fifth time.
He was named on a half-back flank after averaging 26 possessions in 21 matches.
Meanwhile, hard-working utility Brad Symes has been added to the Crows' leadership group which consists of Goodwin, Scott Stevens, Nathan van Berlo, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty, Brett Burton and Tyson Edwards.
TonyK
Cibbuano
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