Monday 21 March 2016 14:15, UK
Colchester forward Sammie Szmodics has undergone a foot operation and will miss the remainder of the season.
The problem has kept Szmodics out since December and it was initially hoped that a period of rest and injections would see the 20-year-old back out on the pitch, but surgery was required.
U's physio Tony Flynn told the club's official website: "Surgery is always a last resort, especially in young players but it got to the point that it did become the only option.
"There was some stickiness and scar tissue on the outside of one of his tendons in his foot, so the surgeon went in and shaved the offending pieces off and smoothed the area to get rid of the discomfort and pain.
"Whilst it wasn't relatively serious, there will still be a recovery process for young Sammie and he will be out for the rest of the season, despite the operation going as well as expected.
"He has been in a cast since the operation but that should be replaced with a boot this week, which should make it a bit more comfortable for him.
"He will then be in the boot for between four and six weeks, before we can get him out on the training ground again doing some gentle jogging.
"Over the summer, we can build up the work he does and I'm pretty sure that he will be firing on all cylinders before the lads are back for pre-season at the end of June, beginning of July."
