Sanchez Watt has been dealt a fresh injury blow after being ruled out for six weeks with a quad injury.

The Colchester United forward has experienced a stop-start time since joining the U’s from Arsenal this summer.

Watt has started only four games for Joe Dunne’s side this season.

The 22-year-old had been on the verge of a comeback after returning to training, following a troublesome thigh injury.

But Watt is now expected to be sidelined until late November, after suffering the quad injury when he over-stretched during a training session last Friday.

U’s boss Joe Dunne said: “It’s just one thing after another with Sanchez and it’s desperately disappointing for the lad.

“He’s missed about 50 days since he signed for us.

“He wants to play and he’s thrown at himself at the club to get a career going and a new life, away from the big time.

“It might possibly be because of the uncertainty of not having a club in the summer, compared to Craig Eastmond who committed himself early and had the off-season programme.

“We all want to see a fit Sanchez play and he’ll come back - he has positive people around him.”

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including a full preview of the U's clash with Walsall this weekend, see Friday's Gazette.