STEVEN Gillespie, the U’s injury-prone striker, will definitely have to sit out this weekend’s trip to Tranmere Rovers.

STEVEN Gillespie, the U’s injury-prone striker, will definitely have to sit out this weekend’s trip to Tranmere Rovers.

However, U’s boss John Ward has revealed that Gillespie’s hamstring injury, sustained during the first half of last Saturday’s 4-2 win over Notts County, is not as bad as first feared.

“The injury to Steven is not as bad as we first thought,” explained Ward.

“He’s got it early. He felt a pain in his hamstring, but we have had it scanned here at the club twice this week, and there are no signs of it being a tear.

“He’s felt better throughout the week, although he won’t be available for Saturday.

“We are hopeful it’s not going to be a six-week or eight-week job, which these things can sometimes be.

“Hopefully, in two weeks we will have him back around the club, which would be great,” added Gillespie.

Ironically, after spending most of this season sitting on the bench, restricted to cameo appearances as a substitute, Gillespie was finally handed his first league start of the campaign against Notts County last weekend.

He will hope to return to action later this month.