Lewis Kinsella says being ruled out until the New Year is “heartbreaking” after undergoing ankle surgery.

But the Colchester United left-back has vowed to hit the ground running when he returns from his likely three-month spell on the sidelines.

Kinsella underwent an operation on his right ankle last week, after damaging ankle ligaments in a challenge with Reece Grego-Cox during the U’s 0-0 draw with Newport County.

The 22-year-old had started all but one of Colchester’s League Two games prior to suffering the injury.

Kinsella told the Daily Gazette: “All I want to do is play and it’s heartbreaking.

“I’d played 14 games after joining Colchester and loved every minute of it.

“But I’m very lucky that it’s only three months out and it could have been a lot worse.

“As soon as I did it, I knew that it was going to be a bad one.

“I heard a crack and it wasn’t too good.

“I think I was caught in no-man’s land and was trying to get a couple of yards closer.

“He (Grego-Cox) took a big touch and over-did it and I was trying to slow him down but it was a 50-50 ball.

“I went in with my right leg and it was planted on the floor – had it been raised, it may not have been as serious.

“I don’t know if he went for the ball or not but I don’t think it was malicious and I don’t have anything against him – it’s just football.

“When I came back onto the pitch, I looked at my ankle and it was the size of a basketball and hanging over both sides of my boot.”

Kinsella is determined to come back as quickly as possible and reclaim his starting place for Colchester, having made the left-back spot his own prior to suffering the injury.

“When I come back, there’ll be plenty of competition for places, with Matt Briggs likely to be back too,” added the former Aston Villa youngster, who joined Colchester on a free transfer.

“It’s disappointing because I only have a one-year contract and it’s a bit of a worry and as a player, you want to be playing every week.

“When I come back, I have to make sure that I’m flying so that I can sort out next season.

“I don’t want to be in the same boat as I was last summer without a club.”