Colchester United midfielder Cole Skuse has been sidelined

But the experienced Colchester United midfielder is on the mend and looking to return to the fray as soon as possible.

Skuse was forced off with a cut to his head in the first half of Colchester's 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient, last week.

It was the third such head injury that he has suffered since Wayne Brown took over as interim boss, in January and the second in the space of a few weeks, in games against Leyton Orient.

It forced him to miss the U's 1-0 win over Port Vale last weekend but Skuse could be available again for his side's trip to play Scunthorpe United, this Saturday.

Skuse told Col U TV: "I feel a lot better now.

"I've gone through the worst of feeling groggy and not great.

"It was obviously a hefty hit just above my eyebrow to the temple, which knocked me for six a little bit!

"The head injury I had at Leyton Orient a few weeks earlier was after a clash of heads and resulted in 12 stitches, in the centre of my head.

"This one opened my eyebrow up and I suffered from a bit of concussion with it."

Skuse joined the U's last summer from Ipswich Town along with a host of other former Blues players, including Luke Chambers, Freddie Sears and Alan Judge.

The former Bristol City youngster admits they did not expect to be battling against relegation - but believes the close-knit feeling within the group can help them in their battle to beat the drop. He said: "All of the lads who have come across are a really close group of friends.

"It makes the transition a lot easier and we also thought it would replicate on the pitch and sadly, it hasn't for whatever reason.

"If I could put my finger one thing, I wouldn't be sat here - I'd be in a theatre or a magic show!

"We really thought we would have a successful season but for whatever reason, we find ourselves in the position we're in.

"On the flipside of that, us being so tight, being in the scrap we're in together will play a part and be an advantage to us.

"We need to really dig deep and get some points on the board.

"We have to show character especially the senior boys who have maybe been in this sort of position before.

"We need to really rally the troops and pick up some points."

No player has started more games than Skuse for Colchester so far, this season.

But there has been one thing missing from his game at the U's so far - goals.

Skuse added: "I feel like I am getting closer.

"I've got three kids - my ten-year-old and six-year-old have both seen Dad score a goal.

"But every time I leave the house for a game on a Saturday, my wife says I need to score a goal, as my little three-year-old hasn't seen me score yet!

"I don't get forward that often and I like to be slightly disciplined in the way I play.

"Everyone has to do a certain job but especially under the current manager; he's saying you need to go and get forward to express yourself a bit more.

"I'm hoping before the season is out I get a goal and hopefully, it's a crucial one."