COLCHESTER United left-back Ryan Clampin says he is anxious not to rush back from his knee injury.

The 22-year-old has been sidelined since suffering the injury in the U’s FA Cup first-round win at AFC Sudbury on November 5.

Clampin was ruled out for two months with the injury and is not expected to return until January, at the earliest.

And the U’s academy product says as much as he wants to return to action as quickly as possible, he is wary of returning too soon.

Clampin told Col U TV: “It’s an injury I don’t want to rush, because it could be very serious.

“There’s much I can do at the minute if not treated right, so it’s about taking it step by step, day by day.

“As soon as this (his knee brace) gets off, I’ll feel a lot better because I can do a lot more gym work and feel like I’m getting stronger and better.

“At the minute, I feel like I’m useless and I can’t really do anything.

“When this comes off and I can start getting in the gym and doing more rehab, doing some more cardio and maybe getting outside, that will feel a lot better.

“It’s literally about letting it settle down, making sure everything heals properly in the right place.

“Once I get this brace off, I should be up and running.

“I’m gutted not to be involved and it’s obviously not nice, being injured again.

“But I’ve just got to get on with it now and try and get fit, as soon as possible.

“It’s tougher mentally than it is physically – going into football every day, going in with the physio, going in the gym on your own most of the time, seeing all your boys out there training, getting better.

“It’s better being at the training ground than at home because you’re still around the boys and there are other boys injured.

“It’s probably the worst thing when I’m injured and I’m at home, as I literally can’t do anything especially in this knee brace."

Gazette:

Clampin was forced out of Colchester’s televised win at Sudbury in the 12th minute, at the MEL Group Stadium.

He injured his knee in a challenge and was forced to make an early departure, replaced by Cameron Coxe.

Clampin initially wanted to continue but says he was advised not to by his U’s team-mates, something he says he is grateful for.

“They’re a good bunch of lads and they’ve helped me out a lot,” said Clampin, who has made eight league and cup appearances for the U’s, this season.

“With the injury itself, without them, I’d have still been on the pitch, probably made it a lot worse and be looking at a lot more permanent than it is.

“So if anything, I’m just grateful to the boys to be honest.”

Clampin has been watching Colchester’s games at the JobServe Community Stadium during his lay-off and says it has been beneficial watching the vastly experienced Charlie Daniels, in his position.

He added: “I don’t mind watching as it’s always a chance to learn.

“Charlie (Daniels) is very experienced and a very good player.

“He’s also a different full-back to me which is good for me to watch.

“He does the bits that I don’t do so well better so I can learn from him and not just do the same things, all the time.”