LONG-SERVING Colchester United defender Tom Eastman will be out for ‘weeks rather than months’ after suffering an ankle injury.

The 29-year-old, a three-time U's player of the year, was forced off in the closing stages of his side’s Essex derby defeat at Southend United, on Boxing Day.

Eastman, who has made 24 appearances in all competitions this season, missed Colchester’s 0-0 draw with Cheltenham Town because of the injury and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

However, U’s boss Steve Ball says that the injury is not as serious as first thought.

Ball said: “We’re hoping that Tom will be back in weeks rather than months.

“Tom is actually someone who recovers very well.

“I remember a few years back at Blackpool, he hurt his ankle in a bad way and had an op and was back in three weeks.”

Meanwhile Colchester could welcome back two of their sidelined players for their home game against Tranmere Rovers, on Saturday.

Callum Harriott, Cohen Bramall and Harry Pell are all edging near a return and there is a chance at least one of them could feature in the U’s first game of 2021.

“They’re at certain stages of their comeback,” said Ball.

“I think they’re close and I think a couple of them may be available for Saturday.

“They’re certainly not long term.

“With Harry Pell, it’s certainly looking like it’s turning the corner.

“I’m certainly hoping that by the first two weeks of January, we’ll have them all back playing with us.”

Meanwhile, U’s boss Ball is hoping his side can build on the clean sheet they kept against Cheltenham on Tuesday night.

The U’s had looked vulnerable defending set pieces in previous games but battled well to foil the visitors, in the goal-less draw.

Ball added: “People have rightly questioned us with set pieces and that side of the game.

“But Cheltenham are probably the best team in the league at doing that in terms of their size and I think we defended really well to keep the clean sheet.”