COLCHESTER United striker Luke Norris could be sidelined for 'a number of weeks' after suffering an ankle injury in training.

The 25-year-old, who has scored eight goals for the U's so far this season, sustained the injury in training last week.

It forced him to miss Colchester's 3-2 home defeat against Mansfield Town yesterday and U's head coach John McGreal fears the forward could be sidelined for some time.

McGreal said: “Luke’s standing foot went from underneath him as he was taking a shot.

“He’s wobbled his ankle again.

“He went to see a specialist on Wednesday, so it’s how he builds it up.

“I’d imagine it’ll be a number of weeks."

Norris was out for a month earlier in the season after suffering an injury to the same left ankle in Colchester's 1-0 win over his former club Swindon Town, last October.

However, he returned for the U's victory over Macclesfield last month and had been a regular appearance maker for them, prior to suffering the fresh injury last week.

Norris's injury leaves Colchester short of forward options, following loanee Aaron Collins' return to parent club Wolves earlier this month.