COLCHESTER United's rock at the back, Chris Coyne, was in the wars over the weekend and even "throwing up blood."The ex-Luton Town skipper was unable to appear for the second half of Saturday's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bristol City.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United's rock at the back, Chris Coyne, was in the wars over the weekend and even "throwing up blood."

The ex-Luton Town skipper was unable to appear for the second half of Saturday's 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bristol City.

Coyne fell heavily under a challenge from City's big centre-forward, Dele Adebola, and was too groggy to continue after the interval.

Ironically, Adebola went on to score the equaliser in City's victory.

Coyne, though, was not accusing Adebola of foul play, and he hopes to be back for the U's vital home match against Wolves this Saturday.

"There was no malice in the challenge. I jumped early for a ball, and Adebola tunneled under me and caught my legs," explained Coyne.

"I must have fallen awkwardly and banged my head. Adebola is a big fellow, and you know about it when he challenges you. But I'm used to that.

"I wanted to carry on until half-time, and then get some treatment.

But I threw up some blood, and my head was all over the place when I sat down in the dressing room.

"I suppose that I was in no fit state to continue. Kit Symons (assistant manager) said that I was shaking all the time.

"In hindsight, I'd love to have stayed on the pitch and helped us to the victory that I think we deserved. But it wasn't to be.

"I've had a stiff neck and a headache over the weekend. I had been planning to drive home to spend some time with my wife and kids, but I decided against that, because I was still feeling nauseous," added Coyne.

The relegation-haunted U's have picked up a spate of injuries over the last few weeks. Winger Mark Yeates is out for the season, after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder last week, while left-back John White dislocated his elbow during the first-half of Saturday's defeat by City.

Defenders Bela Balogh and Pat Baldwin are currently nursing injuries, as are front-runners Jamie Guy and Teddy Sheringham. Leading scorer Kevin Lisbie made his return as a second-half substitute on Saturday, following a twisted ankle.

However, Coyne is convinced that he will be fit to start against Wolves this Saturday. The 29-year-old Australian has started every game since his £350,000 move from Luton on January 10.

He confirmed: "I'm going to take it easy for the first two or three days of this week. There's no point in rushing back.

"I have no problem with my match-fitness, because I've already played 30-odd games this season. I want to make sure that I'm fit to play against Wolves."