A serious knee injury has forced Charlton Athletic's Hockley-based goalkeeper Simon Royce out of the Premiership strugglers' fight for top flight survival.

The former Southend United shot stopper limped out of last weekend's crunch relegation clash with Blackburn Rovers at The Valley and he now faces four agonising months on the sidelines.

"I'm absolutely gutted," admitted the 27-year-old, who has recently established himself as the Addicks' first team custodian.

"I'd already missed seven weeks with a cruciate ligament injury, following a freak training ground accident, and now it looks as though I won't be fit again in time for the start of next season - it's a real sickener."

Royce's latest setback came 15 minutes into the 0-0 draw with Blackburn as he attempted to make a routine catch.

"I went straight up for the ball, but as I came down I landed awkwardly and one of their players - Jason McAteer - caught me from behind," he explained.

"I was carried off the pitch at half-time and had to go into hospital where the doctors told me that I'd injured the cruciate again.

"By using scope cameras they identified that the damage to my knee was serious and now I face the first operation of my career to get fit again."

Royce is due to go under the surgeon's knife in June when he will have a tendon removed from his hamstring to rebuild the ligament in his knee.

"I just hope that when I recover from this setback Charlton are still in the Premiership," Royce said.

"It had always been my ambition to play against the best at the top level, which I have achieved this season, but now I've had my first taste I want more.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can stay up, but with only two games left it will be very tough for us to survive."

After winning his place in Charlton's first team back in January, Royce has made eight league appearances for the south London club against the likes of Champions League finalists Manchester United.

He has also equalled the club's top flight consecutive clean sheets record - with four shut outs - as he played starring roles in the Addicks' wins over Derby, Liverpool and Wimbledon, and a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.

However, second bottom Charlton's destiny will now be decided by a daunting trip to Aston Villa this weekend, followed by a final home match against Sheffield Wednesday.

Royce, though, doesn't believe that it will be all doom and gloom if the brave Addicks lose their Premier League status.

"If the worst happens and we do go down I'm sure we can bounce straight back again next season," he predicted.

"We have enough quality around the place to launch a promotion bid and at least make the play-offs."

Finally, Royce spared a thought for his former Southend team mates, who have just won their own relegation battle by avoiding the dreaded drop into the Conference League.

"I was well pleased to see the boys pull out of trouble and now they've got a good manager in Alan Little at the helm I'm confident they can do better things next season," he said.

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