Colchester United new boy Ben Coker could be sidelined for up to two months after damaging ankle ligaments.

The left-sided youngster, who only joined the U's on a permanent basis last week following a successful trial, suffered the injury during a training session on the club's all-weather pitches.

It is now feared that Coker could be out for between six to eight weeks.

Colchester manager John Ward said: “It was a freak accident but it's quite a nasty one.

“The young kid started so well and it's a shame for him but it could have been a lot worse.”

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