Colchester United’s injury-plagued attacking midfielder, Sammie Szmodics, has been sidelined by another foot problem.

Szmodics only returned to first-team action last weekend, as a 77th minute substitute in the goalless draw at Mansfield, following a month out with a foot injury.

But the 21-year-old has suffered another blow this week, that has set him back.

“We tried to get Sammie (Szmodics) some more minutes under his belt on Monday,” revealed U’s boss John McGreal during this lunchtime’s press conference at Florence Park, Tiptree.

Szmodics only lasted for 15 minutes while turning out for the U’s Under-23s in a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

McGreal continued: “But Sammie has suffered a setback and his foot is back in a protective boot at the moment.

“He had an injection in his ankle the other week, and he got some minutes last Saturday at Mansfield. He needed more time on Monday, to catch up on his fitness.

“But it seems that he got caught by a challenge, and then when he had a shot, it opened up the joint again.

“So he is back in the hands of (physio) Tony (Flynn), taking it day-by-day.

“It seems to be a case of one step forward and two steps back for Sammie at the moment.

“He always want to play, he is desperate to play, and obviously it’s a big blow for us, as well as for Sammie,” added McGreal.

Colchester-born Szmodics missed a big chunk of last season with a foot injury, which eventually saw him undergo an operation on his ankle last January.

The U’s entertain Notts County on Saturday (3pm).