HARRY Pell has revealed the extent of the hamstring injury he suffered against former club Cheltenham Town.

The Colchester United midfielder is set to be sidelined for three weeks with the injury he picked up in the early stages of his side’s 3-0 win, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Pell underwent an ultrasound to determine the extent of the injury and it revealed a Grade One strain.

As a result, the 27-year-old is set to miss the U’s game at Macclesfield Town this weekend, along with their forthcoming matches against Carlisle United and Swindon Town.

Pell told the Gazette: “I’m probably looking at missing three games – it could have been worse and we have adequate cover to come in and do well.

“When I first did it I thought ‘oh no’ – I’ve never had a muscle injury like that before.

“The only way I can describe it is that it felt like I’d been shot by a shotgun.

“I was ever so down about it all weekend and there was a lot of bruising and swelling.

“But I’ve had the ultrasound as it sounds as though it’s not as bad as first thought.

“I’ll be spending a lot of time with our physio Tony Flynn to try and do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible to help the lads.

“But I don’t want to come back too quickly and end up being out for even longer.”

Pell has revealed he is happy to offer to pay for a hotel room if it means him travelling with the Colchester squad to Macclesfield, this weekend.

“I’ve asked the gaffer if I can travel with the squad to Macclesfield,” said Pell, who has started all but two of the U’s games in League Two, this season.

“I’ll pay for my own hotel room if it means I can be there.

“But the worst thing in the world is not playing and I’ll be pretty helpless, on Saturday.

“I’ll be like one of the fans, feeling all of the emotions watching my team.

“But I still feel like I have a part to play in the coming weeks.”

Pell has thanked fans for all of the goodwill messages he received after suffering the hamstring injury against Cheltenham.

He added: “It was unbelievable to get so many messages over the weekend wishing me well, from Colchester and Cheltenham fans.

“It was really nice - I couldn’t respond to all of them but I’m very grateful.”