Essendon Bombers coach Ben Rutten has revealed both Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer are unlikely to play on Anzac Day against the Collingwood Magpies.
Neither Merrett or Stringer have been seen for a handful of weeks now, with both players only managing two games a piece.
Merrett played in the opening two rounds against the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions, with the club losing both fixtures, while Stringer was a part of the Round 3 clash against the Melbourne Demons alongside the Round 2 game against Brisbane.
That was another loss for the Bombers, with their only win coming in Round 4 against the Adelaide Crows by just four points.
A Round 5 loss by 48 points to the Fremantle Dockers on Sunday afternoon at home won't see Rutten reach for the panic button though, indicating to reporters that he was backing his side to turn things around, with Stringer and Merrett less likely despite hopes they would return.
“Stringer and Merrett [are] probably less likely for next week," Rutten said.
"Then there’s [Harrison] Jones, [Kaine] Baldwin, [Kyle] Langford, [Will] Snelling, [James] Stewart a bit later on.
“They’re going to be a bit closer to the bye.
“There are a couple of players that are going to be the future of our club, but we’ve got to make sure they’re ready to go.
“We also need to make sure our players that are playing are up for it and continuing to improve.”
Both Baldwin and Stewart (returning from injury) played for the Essendon VFL outfit over the weekend, with Baldwin kicking five goals.
Rutten also confirmed during his press conference that there was no timeframe on the return of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.
Essendon will take on the Magpies next Monday in their traditional Anzac Day clash, with the first bounce set for 3:20pm (AEST).
