Frustrated Colchester United skipper Chris Porter faces more time on the sidelines after his ankle injury proved worse than first feared.

The U’s have badly missed the experienced forward since he suffered torn ankle ligaments in their opening-day draw with Blackpool.

Porter has been forced to sit out Colchester’s last four league and cup games, where they have been unable to secure a first win of the season.

And the 31-year-old striker has revealed he will have to wait a little longer before he is ready to return to the fray.

Porter said: “It’s getting there but slowly.

“Unfortunately, it’s a little worse than originally thought and it looks like it might be a couple more weeks.

“I’ll give it every chance but I think the Scunthorpe game will probably be too soon.

“I have to be careful that I don’t back too soon and set myself back further.

“But I’m doing as much as I can so that I can come back and not be out again.

“It’s sore and I can’t do any twisting or turning on it until it’s better so it’s just a case of waiting for it to heal.

“At the moment, I’m not training with the lads.

“I’m able to do things like bike work, rowing and swimming but I’m not able to train with the rest of the team.

“I’ve had a full pre-season behind me so hopefully once I’m ready, I’ll be available to play straight away.”

Porter suffered the injury inside the opening three minutes of Colchester’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool.

He was able to carry on until he was substituted with 12 minutes remaining of the League One curtain-raiser.

“We knew it was bad at the time and I probably shouldn’t have played on as a long as I did,” said the former Sheffield United forward.

“I didn’t do myself any favours by doing that but it being the first game of the season, I wanted to continue.

“I know people are frustrated about how long it’s taking but believe me, no-one is as frustrated as me.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.