The 22-year-old, who has been linked with a return to Perth to join brother Jeremy at the West Coast Eagles, will consult specialists this week after leaving the ground in the final quarter of Saturday’s Showdown.

Crows General Manager of High Performance Matt Hass told the club’s website today it was yet to be determined whether surgery was required, but “unfortunately, scans have revealed a fairly significant amount of damage”.

“Across the rest of this week, we’ll consult specialists and come up with a plan of action [but] it’s fair to say, he will spend a period of time on the sidelines,” Hass said.

McGovern is expected to miss at least two months of football.

Key forward Josh Jenkins – who had loomed as a ready-made replacement against his former side after missing the cross-town clash with a rib injury sustained against Hawthorn the previous week – has also been ruled out and remains a week-to-week proposition.

Late today, the Crows revealed Jenkins had consulted a thoracic specialist about his injury, which saw him hospitalised at the time but cleared of rib or organ damage.

“Consultation with a thoracic specialist revealed Jenkins has significant damage to the Costochondral Cartilage as well as deep Thoracic bruising,” the club said in a statement.