Southend United winger Steven Clark has revealed he is still some way off making a return to the Shrimpers first team - despite playing 90 minutes for the reserves yesterday afternoon.
The 22 year old was unable to stop the rock-bottom Blues crashing to a 1-0 defeat at local rivals Colchester United and admitted he had not enjoyed his comeback from a knee injury.
"I felt OK for the opening 30 minutes but after that I felt awful to be honest," said the former West Ham United trainee.
"I've got no match sharpness at the moment and it's going to take me a couple more weeks before I am likely to be challenging for a place in the first team again."
The speedy midfielder added he was still only 50 per cent fit and had become frustrated at his latest spell on the treatment table.
"It's been so hard," he said. "I keep getting small knocks which are forcing me to miss training. It's affecting my fitness and that's why I'm finding things difficult at the moment.
"I felt tired and lethargic against Colchester and, to make matters worse, it was my man who scored from the corner too."
Deep into added on time Lee Wilson headed home a Johnston corner to seal a last-gasp victory for the home side.
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Published Thursday April 8, 2004
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