Colchester United defender Ryan Clampin has spent time at St George's Park

The Colchester United left-back has been out for nearly five months with a serious knee injury.

Clampin suffered a serious knee ligament injury in the U's FA Cup win at AFC Sudbury, in early November.

The U's academy product, who has made nearly 50 appearances for the U's since making his senior debut for them in September, 2018, has been making good progress.

And Clampin has just returned from a stint at the National Football Centre's rehabilitation centre, in Burton upon Trent.

The 23-year-old benefited from using leading gym equipment and 1:1 rehab specialist sessions, as he bids to get back to fitness.

Colchester interim head coach Wayne Brown said: "With people like Clamps who have experienced a long-term injury, they will tell you that sometimes, that change of scenery, that change of voice with him having been out for a few months now can only benefit the individual and the club, in getting the individual fit.

"That's the reason he's gone there and I'm sure that the work that they've been putting into him over the last week can only benefit him.

"Both mentally and physically, it can be a real positive."

Colchester's medical team will now test Clampin's strength, with the hope that he can begin more grass rehab and football work at Florence Park.

However, U's interim boss Brown says it is important that the defender is not rushed back too early.

Brown said: "Is there a chance of him playing before the end of the season? "Who knows - we'll have to see how this week has gone and what sort of progress and improvement he has made during that time.

"Then it'll be a work in progress and hopefully, we can get him back involved before the end of the season.

"But if we can't, then we get him 100 per cent ready for the start of the following season.

"The last thing you want to do is rush an individual back when he's not quite right.

"We'll tread carefully on that one.

"It's tough, especially when you haven't got loads of other injuries and you find yourself in that treatment room or in that gym on your own.

"It's a lonely place at times and it's about keeping him involved, keeping the comms open with him, keeping him in and around the group which he has been.

"Making the player feel wanted is very important when he's injured, that they still feel a part of what you're trying to achieve.

"He's been a big part of what we've been trying to achieve all season and he will continue to be.

"Even though he's injured, he's also got a big part to play."

Writing in the U's matchday programme for the Forest Green Rovers game, U's first-team physio Vicky Athey said Clampin's recovery is going well.

She said: "Following some strength testing with Clamps, we found his limb symmetry strength was still off where we need it to be, however this is continuing to improve.

"His balance, proprioception and functional movement patterns have made real progress on in the last few weeks and have enabled us to progress on to some light plyometrics (running mechanics!)."