Colchester United have been rocked by the news that skipper Luke Prosser has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.

The 28-year-old central defender, who joined the U’s from Southend United in the summer, underwent surgery on the injury yesterday and is now facing up to six months on the sidelines.

Prosser limped out of the warm-up prior to Colchester’s home game with Leyton Orient earlier this month, after suffering discomfort in his knee.

However, the U’s have said the injury may actually have occurred in last month’s 2-2 home draw with Morecambe.

Colchester boss John McGreal admits losing Prosser is a big blow.

McGreal said: “You’re talking five or six months with Luke’s injury.

“We’ve gone back over it and it looks like something that happened against Morecambe, where he might have just extended his leg.

“Luke being the warrior that he is has carried on and iced it and got through the games and training.

“But then in the warm-up against Leyton Orient, it just felt something click in his knee and that was it – it locked up.

“Luke has been a real focal point at the club, all through the winless run that we’ve had and at the beginning of the season when we started well.

“He’s been a pivotal figure for us and it’s a blow to lose him – he’s been fantastic for us and led by example, even on the training ground.

“But he’ll be back and he’ll be back stronger.”