PAUL Reid will play again for Colchester United this season according to manager Aidy Boothroyd.

The 28-year-old defender has been struggling with a series of niggly hamstring, calf and groin injuries over the last few weeks – all of which of which stem from a back problem.

An injection to the problematic area was hoped to relieve the issue, however Reid continues to suffer and is still unable to train with the rest of the squad.

“He’s working really hard in the gym to get back, but at the moment it seems to be two steps forward and three back,” rued Boothroyd.

“Paul’s done very well for us when he’s played and the last thing I want is for him to think his season is over.

“I don’t want him to be thinking about getting ready for next season just yet.

“He’s been great in the changing room and I’ve told him he’s going to play some part before the end of the season.”

Overall it has been a nightmare season injury-wise for the centre-back.

The former Barnsley defender broke his kneecap at Huddersfield last March and, following multiple operations and complications, he missed the first three months of this season.

Upon his return to fitness, Reid quickly established himself as one of Boothroyd’s first choice centre-backs, playing nine games in succession either side of the New Year.

After playing his part in January’s morale-boosting 0-0 draw at Gillingham, Reid suffered a calf strain in the build up to Colchester’s match against MK Dons just two days’ later and he hasn’t featured since then.

“The back is the main issue, but he’s had so many secondary injuries because of that,” explained Boothroyd.

“The most important thing is that he just keeps coming in and working hard from nine to five everyday.

“When you have as many injuries as Paul’s had it takes a really strong character to come back.”

Boothroyd has rarely been able to field the same back four for more than a handful of consecutive games this season due to injuries, suspension and unavailability.

And that could well be the case again for today’s visit of Swindon, with French loanee Franck Queudrue rated as ‘touch and go’ after he left the field with a hamstring strain on Monday.

“I’ve not really had a settled back four at any time,” said Boothroyd, who was also without first choice left-back Marc Tierney for three games recently after he underwent groin surgery.

“I would like to name an unchanged every week if I could, I think I’ve only been able to name the same team for six games in row once this season and we took 15 points from an available 18 so that shows you something.

“That’s why you have a squad though and in general I’m very happy with the squad I’ve got.”