COLCHESTER United legend Karl Duguid has urged stricken star John-Joe O’Toole to stay positive after he was ruled out for up to nine months through injury.

O’Toole suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in the U’s 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic, on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old midfielder now faces a long rehabilitation process and may not play again in 2010.

Former Colchester stalwart Duguid suffered a serious knee injury himself while playing for the U’s against Stockport County in March, 2004.

The Plymouth Argyle star was sidelined for nearly 18 months as a result.

However, he battled back from the setback to lead the U’s in the Coca-Cola Championship.

And Duguid believes O’Toole can overcome his disappointment and be a key performer again for Colchester.

Duguid told the Gazette: “It’s a tough one for him.

“You don’t want to be out for any amount of time in your career.

“But he has plenty of time ahead of him and it might not be as long as nine months.

“There will be down times but since I came back, it couldn’t have gone better for me.

“I actually spoke to the PFA about what I would be entitled to, if I had to give up.

“But the season after that we got promoted and we were playing in the Championship.

“All of the hard work paid off and I looked at that as my reward.

“Since then, it’s all gone quite well for me and you have to look forward to the good times and not dwell on things.”