COLCHESTER United skipper Karl Duguid feared the worst when he hobbled off with a foot injury before half-time against Wolves.Duguid dreaded the diagnosis of a fractured foot, which would have sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United skipper Karl Duguid feared the worst when he hobbled off with a foot injury before half-time against Wolves.

Duguid dreaded the diagnosis of a fractured foot, which would have sidelined him for the rest of the season.

But the U's longest-serving player has only suffered some tissue damage and bad bruising, which should mean that he makes a comeback later this month.

Duguid revealed last night: “I got tackled very early on by Michael Gray. It was a bad tackle and he should have been booked, although refs don't seem to book players early on.

“At the time, I thought that I might have fractured my foot. However, I had some treatment and then tried to run it off over the next 15 to 20 minutes, hoping that it was just a kick and that it would get better.

“But the foot just got worse and worse. I couldn't carry on, especially as I wasn't doing the lads any favours by staying on the pitch.

“I also didn't want to do myself any lasting damage.

“I've since had a scan, and basically the foot is badly bruised and swollen.

“The Plymouth game is too early for me, but I'll be having treatment at the club this week. I just need the swelling to come down,” added Duguid.

U's physio Tony Flynn confirmed: “There is no fracture in Karl's foot. It is all soft tissue damage, which means a lot shorter recovery time.”

Duguid will be hoping to add to his 428 senior appearances within the next week or so, and he believes that the U's can still survive in the Championship.

“There are lots of points (36) still to play for. I just hope that we get enough to stay up,” he said.

Tonight's squads

Plymouth Argyle: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Anderson, Sawyer, Teale, Abdou, Nalis, Halmosi, MacLean, Easter, Mackie, Clark, Seip, Wotton and Larrieu.

Colchester United Gerken, Ifill, Virgo, Coyne, Jackson, I McLeod, Izzet, Watson, K McLeod, Platt, Lisbie, Hammond, Vernon, Guttridge, Balogh and Bankole.