Kayode Odejayi has been ruled out of Colchester United's Easter programme after his ankle injury proved worse than first feared.

The U's striker picked up the knock minutes after coming on as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat at Walsall, earlier this month.

Odejayi has made 21 starts and scored ten goals for the U's since joining them initially on loan from Championship side Barnsley, last September.

Colchester assistant manager John Ward said: "Kayode is not going to travel.

"He has ligament damage on the ankle.

"We've had it checked out and it's not severe.

"But it's enough to prevent him from even running at the moment, so we won't see him for a couple of games.

"Initially we looked at it as a direct blow but he strained some ligaments in that tackle.

"He tried to get out for the previous game but he didn't even get a lap in.

"We have done further diagnosis and while it's not severe, he won't make the weekend."

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