Colchester United contract rebel David Greene has been told to stay at home for the next two weeks.

U's boss Steve Whitton revealed on Tuesday he has ordered the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international to rest and do light training at his Luton home in a bid to quickly shrug off the leg injury that is threatening to keep him sidelined for up to a month.

Greene suffered knee ligament injuries which forced him to leave the pitch to a crescendo of boos from a section of the U's fans near the end of the recent 3-1 home defeat against Bury.

His knee was put in plaster as a precaution following a visit to see a specialist last Friday.

The big central defender and reigning Player of the Year, signed from Luton Town for £30-000 four years ago, looks set to leave Layer Road under the Bosman rule at the end of the season after rejecting a new contract from the U's.

Whitton said: "I have told Greeney to stay at home and do his training at Luton. It makes more sense to do that than drag the player all the way to Colchester."

But Greene, could find it very difficult to break back into the first team if the central defensive partnership of new signing Ross Johnson and revitalised club captain Richard Wilkins continues to prosper as it did to great effect in the morale boosting 1-0 win at highflying Wigan on Saturday.

Johnson's on-off free transfer to the U's from Brighton finally went through without further hitcheson Tuesday and the the deal, originally worked out over 18 months was eventually stretched to two-and-half-years.

Whitton said: "Ross has already proved to me that he wants to move to Colchester and the club are prepared to reward him for his positive attitude.

"If Wilkie keeps himself fit there could also be a good future for him at the club despite the fact he is approaching the twilight of his career.

"Richard's class and experience speaks volumes for him. I want to keep him at the club next year and if he stays fit he will be in the side again next season."

That is a great testimony to a loyal U's player who former manager Mick Wadsworth was prepared to throw on the rubbish dump at the start of the season.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.