Adam Hinshelwood is fearing the worst ahead of a scan on the knee injury that has ruled him out for the start of the season.

The 22-year-old defender will find out tomorrow the extent of the damage after he was stretchered off in the first half of Tuesday's pre-season friendly at Colchester.

Hinshelwood was sidelined for 11 months last season with a ruptured cruciate knee ligament and only returned in February.

The early diagnosis indicates the latest set-back is a less serious medial ligament injury.

Hinselwood said: "It is the same area as before, the cruciate as well as the medial. As soon as I came down my leg twisted and I felt something go completely straight away. It felt like it did when I did it before at Withdean last year.

"I am trying to get it in my head that it is a bad one and then if it is anything better, I will be delighted.

"I am trying to come to terms with the worst case scenario first to make it easier to deal with when we find out how serious it is.

"At the moment we have to wait for the swelling to go down, before I have the scan on Friday."

Hinshelwood is determined to stay upbeat even if the scan results confirm his fears.

He said: "It is a real kick in the teeth but these things go with the job. I have to deal with it the best I can.

"I'm going to go home and spend a lot of time with my family and realise how lucky I am to do what I do.

"There are lots of people in worse situations than myself so you have to try to stay positive and get on with it whatever the outcome."