SAMMIE Szmodics has spoken of his relief after learning his foot injury is not as bad as first feared.

There were concerns that the midfielder had suffered a broken metatarsal during the U’s 1-0 defeat against MK Dons, which would have meant a lengthy lay-off at a key stage of the season.

But after a meeting with leading consultant radiologist Dr Otto Chan and U’s head physio Tony Flynn, an X-ray has revealed that there is no break.

And that is good news for the U’s and Szmodics, who had been in red-hot form for the League One club prior to suffering the injury last week.

The 19-year-old is set to sit out Colchester’s next two matches – but could be ready to return for their game at Rochdale on March 7.

Szmodics said: “There was bruising on the bone but it was good to know that there’s no break, otherwise I could have been out for six weeks.

“It’s just a case of having plenty of rest and ice, and hopefully the swelling will go down.

“I must have been kicked against MK Dons, last Tuesday.

“It flared up the following day and I had some pain on the bone.

“I’ve had a moon boot on for the last couple of days but hopefully I’ll be able to take that off soon.

“I’m walking on it a bit more now and I’m hoping that I can return to training early next week.”

Szmodics had made ten consecutive starts for Colchester before suffering the injury, last week.

But while the former Stanway School pupil is desperate to return to action, he knows he must be patient with his recovery.

“The first thing I said to Mr Flynn was ‘can I play on Saturday?’,” added Szmodics, who has been at the U’s since he was seven.

“He just told me that I have to remember I’m young and not to rush things. I’d been enjoying my football so much and it came at an unfortunate time – I was playing with a lot of confidence.

“I’d been getting into good positions and was taking my chances.

“But I’ve only just signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Colchester and have plenty of time in front of me.”

Colchester are awaiting the results of an MRI scan on David Fox’s hip injury, after he also missed the Bristol City win, last weekend.

Meanwhile, Tom Lapslie is said to be making “real progress” after suffering an ankle injury in the closing stages of the Robins victory.