Colchester United captain Karl Duguid has handed his side a boost after declaring his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.

Duguid was stretchered off after around half an hour of his side's 2-1 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday.

He landed awkwardly on his foot and sprained ligaments, while attempting to make a defensive clearance.

The 29-year-old U's stalwart left the Britannia Stadium on crutches.

However, he received treatment from club physiotherapist Tony Flynn at Layer Road yesterday morning and the news was positive.

And with Colchester now without a game for two weeks because of the international break, Duguid is hopeful that he may be fit for their next Coca-Cola Championship clash, the home match against promotion-hopefuls West Bromwich Albion on October 20.

He told the Gazette: "It's a bit sore.

"As I went to clear the cross, the ball hit my ankle and my foot went from under me.

"I'm hoping that it will be no more than a couple of weeks.

"It's not as swollen as it could have been because I had strapping on it anyway.

"I've thrown the crutches away because when you're using them it can make the leg a bit stiff and I can still walk OK.

"I don't want to be injured but it's come at a good time in that we've got the international break and I'm sure that I'll be back after that."

For more on this story and full reaction and pictures from Colchester's game at Stoke City, see today's Colchester Gazette.