Experienced Colchester United midfielder Kevin Watson today vowed to overcome his troublesome Achilles injury and make a first-team comeback.

The 33-year-old played for around an hour for the U's reserves, helping them to a 2-2 draw with Norwich City Reserves at a rain-sodden Layer Road.

Watson has not played in the Coca-Cola Championship for Colchester since May but is now slowly building up his match practice.

And he has set his sights on increasing his fitness over the coming weeks.

He told the Gazette: "I have a bit of a mini pre-season coming up over the next couple of weeks which no-one likes but it's got to be done.

"I'm just pleased that I'm going to be back out on the training ground and joining in again because it's been a tough time.

"I just have to build my fitness up now, although I think the West Brom game will come too early for me."

Watson has admitted he may have to monitor his troublesome Achilles for the foreseeable future.

"I think I've got to the point with my Achilles where I'm going to be in a little bit of discomfort," he said. "But it's something that's not going to stop me from playing.

"While I'm running and playing it's OK because football takes my mind off it. But when I stop we have to manage it and make sure that we don't do too much."