Life has been hell for Colchester United midfielder Chris Keeble since he ruptured an Achilles tendon at Wycombe Wanderers in the final game of last season.

Painful - Keeble hobbles off after rupturing an Achilles tendon

Eleven months and two career-saving operations later the 23-year-old former Ipswich Town trainee is still battling to regain full fitness.

And when his U's team-mates run out to do battle Keeble, who is yet to kick a ball in earnest this season, was planning to be doing everything in his power to keep his mind off it.

He said before the weekend: "I shall probably go out and do a bit of shopping and then listen to live commentary of the match on the radio.

"I dare say my mind will flit back to last season at around 4.30pm roughly the time when the injury occurred."

Chris has painstakingly, very often alone, been slogging on the fitness treadmill since then under the watchful eyes of former U's physio Andy Hunt and more recently the club's new man Frank Reepe.

"I'm getting there slowly but surely," said Chris. "And after a setback just before Christmas I'm very happy with my progress.

"That setback cost me a good two months which has proved very frustrating, but I'm now getting to the stage where I'm kicking a ball and changing direction at around 70 per cent of my full capacity.

"Things are falling into place nicely and I'm pushing myself to my own limits.

"I don't want to get into a situation where I'm going home sore and still getting up sore the next morning."

"It would be great to be back playing, especially as I'm looking to win a new contract.

"But I haven't even thought about that. I've got enough to worry about getting back to full fitness.

"They told me when the injury happened I would be out for a whole year.

"Sadly it's now looking unlikely that I will play again this season."

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Published Monday, March 25, 2002