COLCHESTER United central defender Magnus Okuonghae is set to undergo an ankle operation.
Okuonghae is due to go under the knife next Tuesday.
The injury has seen the U's defender sidelined for the past three months and, despite making some progress, it has been decided that an operation would be in his best interest.
U's manager John Ward said: "The issue is he doesn't feel mobile enough and isn't confident that, with a change of pace, he can get away from someone or close them down.
"It means he will miss the remainder of this season, but we will have him back in pre-season fit and well."
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