COLCHESTER United midfielder Johnnie Jackson is still two weeks away from a return to competitive action.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United midfielder Johnnie Jackson is still two weeks away from a return to competitive action.

Ex-Tottenham playmaker Jackson has not featured for a month, since damaging his shoulder during the early stages of the 3-1 home win over Cheltenham.

“The shoulder is worse than I thought,” admitted Jackson, before watching his team-mates lose 1-0 to Tranmere on Tuesday night.

“I can still keep myself fit, which is good, but I can't really join in the contact stuff yet. I think it will be another two weeks.

“Apparently, the shoulder almost popped out. It's very frustrating, but hopefully I'll be back soon,” added Jackson.

The 26-year-old had played in every league game up until that Cheltenham clash, either in central midfield, at left-back or on the left flank.

But he will have to wait until later this month before pushing for a return to the squad. Likewise, fellow injury victim Steven Gillespie is also biding his time after his recent hamstring problem.

The U's suffered a setback in their quest to make a late dash for the play-offs, when suffering only their second defeat in the last 13 league games against Tranmere. They had no answer to Ryan Shotton's 49th minute winner.

Paul Lambert's men will bid to bounce back straight away, when they travel to mid-table Walsall on Saturday.

And they will at least be boosted by the return of Kem Izzet, who sat out the Rovers game due to a one-match suspension. Izzet was badly missed in central midfield.

It was only the second time this season that Izzet had not been involved in the 16-man squad. Ironically, the only other occasion was the home match against Saturday's opponents Walsall, which the Saddlers won 2-0 in mid-November.