Southend defender Johnny Herd is facing up to a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Herd limped out of the Shrimpers' FA Cup defeat at Gillingham after just half an hour.
And the 20-year-old is likely to be out of action for four weeks.
He told the club`s official website: "It's not as bad as first feared. Initially we thought I would be out for a lot longer but the physio believes it might be three to four weeks now.
"It happened in the first half when I overstretched and I felt my left hamstring go. I'm seeing the doctor on Tuesday so I will know for definite how bad it is then."
