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Reborn at Collingwood, Oleg Markov has impressed Magpies coach Craig McRae who says the delisted Suns defender fulfils his need for speed.

Craig McRae had the need for speed, so he recruited Oleg Markov.

The 27-year-old is repaying the faith, aptly booting his first goal for his third club against his second club in the Magpies' 79-point drubbing of Gold Coast on Saturday.

The Belarus-born talent, who moved to Adelaide before he was one, was contemplating retirement after the Suns delisted him last year.

Hobbled by injuries, Markov had played 28 games in two seasons, which came after five years and 23 senior games at Richmond.

He's now managed 12 games this season after pushing his way into the AFL team in round four and is filling a role for the bookies' premiership favourite.

"Fantastic to see him get rewarded on the scoreboard, but he's just a great character," McRae said.

"The boys love him, he fits in really well and his speed really stands out.

"And we had a need, wanted someone like Oleg to come in and play a role for us and he's done that extremely well.

"Today was the best game he's played for our club and we wanted to make sure that playing against his old club we supported him and made him feel like he's really at home."

Collingwood improved to 13-2 with the one-sided victory McRae said kick-started a crucial period of the season for the ladder leaders.

"We're very conscious that July's cold in Melbourne and this was the first week of it," he said when asked if it felt like the mid-season grind was now behind them.

"We're using this period ... to really set ourselves up. We have set our sights on a few weeks here we want to just step in.

"It's a difficult time of the year; good teams step up and some maybe don't."

Jeremy Howe's injury comeback has gone to plan, while Steele Sidebottom is nearing a return from a knee injury. Dan McStay will return via the VFL on Sunday and Jordan de Goey can return from suspension next week against the Western Bulldogs.