Frankie Kent could return to training for Colchester United by the end of the month following knee surgery.

The teenage centre-back has received the thumbs up from the surgeon, following his six-week check-up.

Kent has not played since Colchester’s 2-1 defeat against Port Vale at the start of November.

But he is hoping to start his fitness work in the next few weeks.

U’s boss Tony Humes said: “Frankie is looking at the back end of February, if anything.

“He’s bang on course to be back when he should be.”

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, see Wednesday's Daily Gazette.