Colchester United could be without their star defender Andy Myers for up to eight weeks.
The influential former Chelsea and Bradford City full-back has been diagnosed to be suffering from a serious back problem which has kept him on the sidelines since the Christmas Sunday defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
And, as he prepared his squad for tomorrow's top-ten Division Two home clash with Barnsley, U's boss Phil Parkinson suffered another disappointment when experienced left-sided player Gavin Johnson also reported in with a back injury.
Parkinson said: "Losing those two players is a big blow to our plans."
U's physio Stuart Ayles told the Evening Gazette that he hoped Myers' projected six-to-eight-week lay-off is the worst case scenario.
He said: "Andy saw a back specialist on Wednesday night and he has been diagnosed to have a disc problem at two levels in his back.
"We are now working under the guidance of that specialist who has advised us to carry on with the physiotherapy we are currently giving Andy."
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Published Friday January 9, 2004
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