Southend United's teenage winger Michael Kightly does not expect to play again this season after finally being forced to the sidelines with a frustrating hip injury.

The promising Basildon-born youngster has not figured in the Shrimpers first team since appearing against York City in January and now looks set to undergo surgery.

"I don't really know how I did it but it must have been during training right at the start of the season," said Kightly.

"I felt a bit of pain but it was OK to carry on and obviously I wanted to play because I was desperate to try and break into the first team.

"It's started to cause me a lot more discomfort lately though and I just can't play on it anymore."

And Kightly added he had been frustrated by his spell on the treatment table but was fully focused on making a speedy return to the Shrimpers squad.

"The MRI scan showed I had a cyst on my hip which had caused my groin problems," he said.

"It's tightened up my thigh and hamstring although, to be honest, I'm happy the injury wasn't more serious."

Published Tuesday April 6, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo