St Kilda swingman Josh Battle will spend an extended period on the sidelines after scans revealed a bone stress injury in his left ankle late on Thursday. 

The versatile 22-year-old pulled up with ankle pain following training with subsequent scans revealing a stress fracture. 

The current injury is unrelated to last year’s right foot soreness which saw the young Saint miss the club's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. 

St Kilda's medical staff will consult with a surgeon early next week to identify the next steps for his recovery. 

Chief Operating Officer Simon Lethlean said Battle is expected to make a complete recovery ahead of Season 2022.

"It’s a disappointing blow for Josh and the club," Lethlean said. 

"With the depth of our injuries this year, Josh has continued to cover a range of roles for us and we’ll miss his versatility and hardness as we head into the pointy end of the season. 

"He’s a loved member of our group and we’ll do everything we can to support him and to get him back on the track as soon as possible."

Injury list