Colchester United new boy Jermaine Grandison has been dealt a blow after suffering a hip flexor injury in training.

The former Shrewsbury Town defender is yet to feature for the U's first team since joining them on a free transfer last month.

Grandison, who has not played since leaving Shrewsbury at the end of last season, had been building up his fitness since joining Colchester.

The 26-year-old, who underwent hip surgery in 2013, is now facing a longer wait to get up to speed to challenge for a first-team place at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester head coach John McGreal said: “Jermaine has had a bit of a setback again, which is really unfortunate as much for him as it is for us as we wanted to get him in and around the first team as quickly as we could.

“We thought that where he was, he was only three or four weeks away.

“We took him in to try and get him fit but it’s just unfortunate that he’s got injured in training.

“It’s just a waiting game for him to come back into it."