COLCHESTER United defender Mandela Egbo looks set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury.
Ebgo is due to see a specialist early this week where the severity of the defender's ailment will be assessed, after he suffered a medial ligament injury to his left knee in the U's 2-0 defeat at Barrow, on March 9.
But with just six weeks remaining of the current campaign, the former Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town man is facing a battle to return in time to play any part in the U's remaining ten games.
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It is terrible luck for Egbo, who has only recently returned from a similar injury to his right knee which left him sidelined for two months.
Colchester head coach Danny Cowley said: "Manny had a scan off the back of last Saturday and that's not good news, unfortunately.
"It looks like he's done a very similar injury to the other knee - it's a medial knee ligament injury.
"He's been very, very unfortunate.
"To get one medial, you have to be very unfortunate; to get two is really disappointing news for Manny.
"He will see a specialist, when we'll be able to make a call on what the timeframe is."
Egbo has made 29 appearances for Colchester since joining them on a two-year deal from Charlton Athletic, last summer.
He is one of a number of defenders currently sidelined for the U's.
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"We have six defenders out," said Cowley.
"Zach (Mitchell), Kells (Fiacre Kelleher) and Will Greenidge all trained on Saturday morning - we did a session with them at the training ground which was really positive.
"But we're still without Manny, Riley Harbottle who has a virus and Ellis Iandolo, a key player for us.
"So to have all of those defenders out is tough."
Jay Mingi was drafted into Colchester's starting line-up for the first time in the league since last November against Walsall.
He slotted in to the team in an unfamiliar central defensive position, as part of a three-man defence.
Cowley added: "Jay did great - he did really well.
"It's not easy to come in out of the cold in your own position, let alone in a position that's a little bit less familiar.
"Jay stood up really well."
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