COLCHESTER United skipper Luke Prosser admits the suspension of the League Two season due to coronavirus is ‘extremely disappointing’.

But the experienced U’s defender says he is determined to stay as fit as possible in readiness for when the campaign restarts – and insists health is the most important thing.

The EFL programme has been suspended until April 30 at the earliest, with Colchester’s Florence Park training ground currently closed due to the pandemic.

Prosser said: “It’s extremely disappointing not to be playing but health is the most important thing.

“It’s been tough – football is all we know.

“We just want to be doing what we know best.

“I think the worst thing is the not knowing how long it will be.

“We’re all desperate to get back playing and we want to finish the season.

“It’s the business end of the season and we’re desperate for the next game.

“There’s so much to play for and we’re desperate to get back out there with the boys.

“We trained last Monday and Tuesday but then it was decided that the training ground should be closed, in keeping with what’s going on everywhere else.

“We don’t know how long that will be for but we’re all trying to keep ourselves fit.”

Colchester’s players have been given individual fitness programmes to adhere to by the club’s sports scientist Perry Blanchette, during their time away from the training ground.

Prosser, 31, says he has been working hard on keeping his fitness levels up, in readiness for when the League Two campaign might restart in the future.

“It’s important to keep that fitness going, especially when you’re fully isolated,” added Prosser, who has made more than 100 league appearances for the U’s since joining them from Southend United in the summer of 2016.

“Luckily for me, my best mate Adam Thompson who plays for Rotherham lives two minutes away from me so we’ve been able to push each other as much as we can in this situation, while at the same time keeping our distance.

“I’ve been doing basic exercises, core work, push ups, press ups and body weight exercises.

“We don’t all have our own gyms like perhaps some of the Premier League players might but we’re doing all we can to keep our fitness levels up, in this situation.”