OWURA Edwards is facing a 'race against time' to feature for Colchester United again this season.

The exciting winger, on loan from Championship club Bristol City, has missed the U's last three games after suffering a knee injury in their 1-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers, last month.

Wayne Brown admits Edwards' injury is more serious than was initially thought, after the game at the Memorial Stadium.

With only six games remaining, the U's interim boss admits the young attacker faces a battle to play again in the current campaign - but has stressed they will not take any risks with the player's fitness.

Brown said: "We're going to have to see how O is.

"It's a little bit more serious than we first thought, bearing in mind that he played on in that game after he sustained the challenge.

"We'll have to see how he reacts.

"We've only got four and a half weeks left of the season, so it's a little bit of a race against time for the kid to be fit and give us what he did, when he was fit.

"But again, that's something that we're working hard to keep an eye on as are his club, Bristol City.

"If he's not, it's about the individual and we're not going to put him at risk if that's going to then put him back months, to try and get him back for a few games.

"It's not what we're about and he's not our player, so ultimately we'll be dictated by them.

"We'll keep a close eye on him as well and try to get him fit."

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Edwards, who has made 12 appearances for Colchester since joining them in January, has been receiving treatment for his knee injury back at his parent club, Bristol City.

But the 20-year-old - who turns 21 on Sunday - has also been working hard in and around Florence Park, during his rehabilitation.

"It's a bit of both," added Brown.

"We're combining with Bristol City to try and get him fit and try and get him back, before the end of the season.

"We've kept him in and around the group but he's also back at Bristol.

"It's important as well when you're a young kid on loan when you've just got injured and you're going to be out for a couple of weeks, it's about keeping his mental frame right at home with his family, in and around his own environment.

"I think that's important."