Southend United midfielder Jay Smith feared another long injury lay off after limping out of Saturday's clash at Mansfield Town with a serious looking knee problem.
The 22-year-old former Aston Villa trainee, who was out for seven months with a stress fracture of the pelvis last year, left the Field Mill Stadium on crutches but is only expected to spend a minimum of two weeks on the treatment table this time around.
"When it first happened I was fearing the worst," said Smith.
"I landed awkwardly and my leg bent back the opposite way to what it is supposed to. I was in a lot of pain immediately and there was no way I could carry on.
"I thought I was going to be out for quite a while, but fortunately it isn't that bad, although there is still quite a lot of pain at the back of my knee."
And Smith also admitted he was looking forward to making a quick return to the Roots Hall first team - but he would not be setting himself any targets.
"Hopefully I'm looking at returning for the game with Cambridge or the first leg at Colchester, but I don't really like to set myself goals," said the youngster.
"I learnt that when I was out last season and you just have to take each day as it comes and not rush anything."
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Published Thursday January 29, 2004
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