Simon Clark is set to make his comeback for Colchester United almost a month after being involved in a fatal car crash.

And the influential U's skipper just cannot wait to kick a football in anger again during tomorrow's (Saturday's) trip to Luton Town.

"I am feeling fine and I just want to play. Let's get on with it," said the 33-year-old central defender.

"What happened was a tragedy and it will always be with me, but I'm just busting a gut to get back into action."

Clark is recalled to a depleted U's squad for the trip to struggling Luton Town, who are currently just one place above Oxford - next week's U's opponents - at the bottom of the Division Two table.

He has missed the U's last three matches as he has battled to overcome the anguish and heartache of the accident in which a pedestrian was killed.

He said: "My life is football. I love playing for Colchester United and I love the responsibility of being the club's captain - it is that that has pulled me back into reality and helped me to get my life back on track again.

"I still feel a lot of grief for the dead man's family and the accident has completely changed my outlook on life. It has put many things into perspective and has made me realise what life is all about.

"For the first two weeks after the accident I didn't want to see anyone and I still keep telling myself if I had done an extra lap of the pitch in training that day I would have been at the scene of the accident a few minutes later and nothing would have happened. My team-mates have been magnificent and my wife Jane has been fabulous through it all.

"She has been a tower of strength for me, while the lads and the dead man's family have also been very supportive."

Clark could find himself thrown in at the deep end, along with fit-again fellow defender Ross Johnson, who has not played all season, and Gavin Johnson who has recovered from a gashed ankle.

Ross Johnson has been suffering from a virus this week, but with Alan White, Tony Lock, Andy Arnott and Joe Keith definitely out and Jason Dozzell very doubtful, he and Clark could be forced into action.

Simon Clark - itching to get back into U's action

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