Scott Fitzgerald is just dying to pull on a football kit again.

And the Colchester United central defender and captain, who hasn't kicked a ball in anger all season, was set to get his big chance this afternoon for the U's reserves at Barnet.

The 33-year-old has been out with knee ligament and cartilage damage since the pre-season friendly at Canvey Island on July 13.

Now, almost four months later, his comeback begins in earnest.

"I can't wait to pull that kit on again," he told the Evening Gazette before setting out for Barnet.

"I love watching football and I could watch it seven days a week, but it's very hard when it's your own team and they're not doing so well.

"I'm very frustrated and I want to help, but even if everything goes really well at Barnet, I think a return to first-team football is still a fair distance away."

Fitzgerald required surgery to repair two split cartilages and although he would love to be involved in Saturday week's FA Cup first round tie against Chester City, he said at the moment training and any matches are very much a fitness exercise for him.

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Published Wednesday November 6, 2002

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