Melbourne are likely to have lost forward Jordan McLean for at least the next month after he suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in the Storm’s 18-13 NRL win over Cronulla.

McLean left the Southern Cross Group Stadium field in the 48th minute after a head clash and did not return.

“He’s got a broken cheekbone – or at least we think it is because it’s really swollen,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said.

“It’s probably a little bit worse than that. We’re not quite sure if there is a little bit more damage.

“He’ll be out for four to six weeks by the looks of it in the best-case scenario.”

The injury also ends any slight chance McLean had of being called into the NSW Origin side this season.

Bound for North Queensland next year, McLean was in the Blues’ extended squad for Origin I after also joining the Kangaroos in camp last month.

The 25-year-old has been one of the Storm’s best forwards this year, having averaged more than 100 metres per game for the first time in his career.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s had that injury before a few years ago, so he knows exactly how it feels,” Bellamy said.

“He knows it broken.”

It adds to a frustrating year for the Storm pack.

McLean has already missed two games through a calf injury, while Jesse Bromwich (hand, suspension), Tohu Harris (foot) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hand) have all missed chunks of football.

Christian Welch has also been ruled out for the season with a knee injury, while Bellamy had been hopeful before McLean’s injury his pack could finally begin to rebuild their combinations.