Long-term injury victim, Kurtis Guthrie, is back in full training and champing at the bit to return to competitive action for Colchester United.

Front-runner Guthrie, the U’s joint second leading scorer with 12 goals last season, has hardly played since injuring his ankle during the 2-1 home win over Hartlepool, on February 25.

Almost 10 months later and Guthrie is nearing a return to the U’s first team squad, after a failed comeback attempt at the start of October.

“Kurtis is back training with the squad,” confirmed U’s boss John McGreal, during this lunchtime’s press conference ahead of this Saturday’s home match against Exeter City.

“He played 45 minutes the other night (for the under-23s against Newcastle, in a Premier League Cup tie), and we’ve pulled him out of tonight’s under-23 match at Swansea so we can assess him ahead of the weekend.

“We have to be wary, after his recent setback, but he has got through that stage.”

Guthrie was an 89th substitute in the 1-0 win at Yeovil, on September 30, and played the first 45 minutes of the EFL Trophy defeat to Gillingham three days later before suffering a reaction.