Veteran Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe has been cleared of further injury after suffering a nasty collision in the Magpies’ heavy defeat to Hawthorn.

The Magpies lost Howe to concussion in a sickening collision with Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe during the opening minutes of their 17.8 (110) to 6.10 (46) defeat at the MCG on Thursday night.

The 35-year-old was taken from the MCG to be assessed in hospital but released after several hours of tests and scans.

Howe taken to hospital after ‘sickening’ clash in Hawthorn win

Jeremy Howe comes off second-best after a brutal head clash with Jai Newcombe in the opening seconds of Hawthorn’s 64-point win over Collingwood.

Howe will miss at least next week’s match against the ladder-leading Crows in Adelaide as he goes into the 12-day concussion protocols.

“In positive news, subsequent scans overnight have cleared him of any further injury,” Collingwood general manager of football Charlie Gardiner said in a club statement.

“Jeremy has since returned home and is recovering well.

‘He will work through the concussion protocols with the support of our medical team.”

The Magpies sat on top of the ladder for 11 consecutive weeks but could slip as low as fourth by the end of the round.

After facing the Crows, they play Melbourne to round out their home-and-away campaign.

“We’ve got to turn up, not just because we’re going to Adelaide and who we’re playing, it’s just because that’s what we want to do,”  Magpies coach Craig McRae said.

“We want to be a team that turns up every week.”

AAP