COLCHESTER United are expected to bring in a new goalkeeper with Sam Hornby set to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

The 27-year-old will undergo an operation next month after surgery was recommended to treat the injury, which the former Bradford City goalkeeper has been carrying over recent weeks.

Hornby will have an operation to repair a SLAP lesion (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior tear) and a partial tear of his rotation cuff in his shoulder, on February 15.

Hornby, who has made 16 appearances for Colchester since joining them from Bradford on a permanent basis last summer, has had to play second fiddle to Kieran O'Hara over recent weeks.

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However, the news of his injury is a setback for both Hornby and the U's, as they bid to continue their rise up the League Two table in the final three months of the season.

Colchester's head physio Hayden Clifton said: "These two issues have been getting gradually worse over a period of time.

"He has had injections in the past, but it has got steadily worse, and the advice was that it was best to have an operation now.

"Unfortunately, it looks like he will miss the remainder of the season - with the expected recovery time being three months."

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Colchester's need to bring in a new goalkeeper was further enhanced after young goalkeeper Ted Collins broke his Tibia.

The shot-stopper, who made his U's debut a year ago against Swindon Town, suffered the injury while playing on loan at Pitching In Isthmian League side Potters Bar Town.

Collins will undergo an operation later this week and is also set to miss the rest of the season.

U's academy physio Hashim Ali said: "It was a freak accident, with an awkward fall causing the damage.

"Ted has broken his Tibia, and the X-rays and scans showed an unstable vertical fracture above the ankle.

"He's having an operation this week, and unfortunately it will be about a fourteen-week recovery timeline for Ted."

Colchester sporting director Dmitri Halajko said: "It's a massive double blow to lose both Sam and Ted at this time.

"We wish them both a speedy recovery, but it looks unlikely that either will feature before the end of the season.

"With that in mind, we will be looking at our options around bringing another goalkeeper into the club."