COLCHESTER United's leading marksman, Kevin Lisbie, has admitted that he won't be fit for tomorrow's trip to Hull City.Goal-poacher Lisbie was forced to sit out Tuesday night's pulsating2-1 home win over fellow strugglers Preston, due to a twisted ankle incurred during the first-half of last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Carl Marston

by Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United's leading marksman, Kevin Lisbie, has admitted that he won't be fit for tomorrow's trip to Hull City.

Goal-poacher Lisbie was forced to sit out Tuesday night's pulsating

2-1 home win over fellow strugglers Preston, due to a twisted ankle incurred during the first-half of last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Burnley.

The ex-Charlton favourite was an uneasy spectator for the Layer Road thriller, which saw the U's clamber off the Championship basement.

And he will be staying at home this weekend to receive more treatment on his ankle, in preparation for a return against visiting Bristol City the following weekend.

Lisbie revealed: "My ankle is getting there slowly, but I won't be ready for Hull on Saturday. I've been having treatment on it all week.

"I'll try some light training tomorrow (Friday) and I'm 90% sure that I'll be OK for the following weekend.”

It's frustrating for Lisbie, because he had hit a rich vein of form since the turn of the year. Boosted by a brace against his former club Charlton (2-1 win at The Valley) on New Year's Day, the 29-year-old also netted in the 1-1 draw at promotion candidates Bristol City and the 2-2 home draw against Sheffield United.

Although Geraint Williams' men managed to record only their sixth win of the season, at the expense of Preston, thanks to Scott Vernon's penalty and Johnnie Jackson's dramatic late winner, Lisbie could barely watch!

"I hate watching my team play. It's agony. I don't want to watch another game!" insisted Lisbie.

Tomorrow's hosts Hull City will also be without their leading scorer, Dean Windass. The 38-year-old underwent an operation to remove some cartilage this week and is expected to be sidelined for 10 days.

Meanwhile, Kevin Watson continued his return to full fitness by scoring the equaliser in the U's Reserves' 2-1 win over Southend on Wednesday.

Watson has been an unused substitute in the last three first-team games, and has made only one senior appearance over the last 11 weeks due to calf problems. Teenage striker Tom Webb scored the winner against the Shrimpers second string. It was the U's Reserves' first win of the campaign, following eight draws and one defeat in their previous nine outings.