David Mooney feared he had broken his leg against Hereford United.

But the Irish striker has handed Colchester United a boost by declaring he could be fit for their big clash with Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Mooney, on loan from Reading, went down in agony in the second half of the U’s 3-0 Carling Cup triumph at Edgar Street, on Tuesday night.

He was stretchered off after injuring his ankle, following a challenge with Bulls skipper Janos Kovacs.

Mooney yesterday underwent an assessment on the injury at parent club Reading, before returning to the U’s.

And after fearing he had sustained a serious injury, it seems as though Mooney’s ankle is just badly bruised and swollen.

Mooney told the Gazette: “When it first happened, I thought that it was serious.

“With the vibrations up my leg, I thought at first I might have broken it.

“It’s a bit swollen but it’s mostly just stiffness and bruising now.

“I’m hoping it will be ok after some more treatment and a little bit of TLC.

“I’m pretty hopeful about playing a part on Saturday, even if I need a pain-killing injection.

“It’s a massive game and there should be a big crowd and a bubbly atmosphere.”

For more on this story, along with all of the latest U's news and Marc Tierney's exclusive weekly column, see today's Gazette.