The Magpies need to turn around their flagging AFL season sooner rather than later.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has admitted time is running out for Bobby Hill to play again this season, but the Magpies will be boosted by the return of Jeremy Howe against Melbourne on Friday night. Hill is a premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner, but has only made one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues.

The 25-year-old flew to Adelaide last week to be around his teammates for their trip to face the Crows, however he didn’t play. He also didn’t train this week and won’t play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill on Tuesday and is focusing on the small forward’s welfare rather than a potential return. McRae said Hill asked him to leave the door ajar for a possible return in September, but the 25-year-old is an unlikely participant in the Pies’ finals campaign.

“There’s high performance and there’s love and care, and I’ve just sort of left the high performance for now and I’m just making sure the young lad’s OK,” McRae said. “Time’s running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we’ll just take that off the table for now. Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

McRae specifically asked Hill what to tell the media when inevitable questions arose as to his absence. “He goes, ‘Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me’,” McRae said.

“But he’s well aware that time’s running out for getting enough load and then to be available. I stepped straight back into love and care and said, ‘Nah, let’s just get him right day by day’.”

Teammate Brayden Maynard said on Monday: “We are a lot better team with him, so hopefully he does turn up and get the ball rolling. It’s an ongoing process, day-by-day process. He knows that he’s got our full support, and we believe that he will get the ball rolling with a few things that he’s got going on.”

Jeremy Howe’s timely return for Collingwood

While Hill won’t be available, the Pies will get premiership defender Howe back for their tussle with the Demons. The 35-year-old was knocked out and concussed in a sickening collision with Hawthorn player Jai Newcombe in round 22, but is back after missing last week’s three-point loss to ladder-leaders Adelaide.

Howe has been given the green light to return in a massive boost to Collingwood’s flailing campaign. McRae’s side have lost four of their last five and are in serious danger of dropping out of the top-four before the finals. “Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he’ll play our system really well,” McRae said.

Collingwood’s forward-line connection wasn’t up to scratch against the Crows, with the Magpies dominating the inside-50 tally (71-37) but unable to make it count. McRae said he’ll consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances.

“We’re working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team,” McRae said. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns.”