Luke McGuane will be sidelined for the rest of the 2014 season after succumbing to a troublesome knee injury.

McGuane underwent surgery on Wednesday to rectify a knee complaint that has plagued him since arriving at the Brisbane Lions late last year.

He carried the injury throughout most of his first pre-season with the Club, before it flared up again during the team’s NAB Challenge match against Sydney at Burpengary and forced him to miss a further six weeks.

McGuane was eventually called-up to make his debut with the Lions in Round 5 against his former side Richmond, but he was severely restricted and failed to have the desired impact in three senior matches.

It got a point where a decision needed to be made – and both McGuane and the Club agreed that surgery was a better option than ongoing management.

The 27-year-old will now commence a lengthy rehabilitation that will ensure he can approach the 2015 pre-season training period with greater confidence in his body.

It proves another blow for the Lions’ who have already lost Daniel Rich for the season with a knee injury, while Brent Staker remains indefinitely on the sidelines with a calf problem.

In better news, premiership player Ash McGrath is getting closer to making his first appearance for 2014.

McGrath has struggled with a calf complaint so far this season, but trained strongly at the Gabba on Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness.

Following such a length break, it’s unlikely that McGrath will be rushed straight back into the senior side, however there’s a chance he might get a taste of NEAFL action against the Gold Coast Reserves following the Bye.