JAKUB Sokolik has ended his loan spell at Southend United after it was revealed he will be out for at least three months with a knee injury.

Sokolik picked up the injury when running on a treadmill and has now returned to his parent club Yeovil Town for further treatment.

But, if the centre-back recovers well from the injury, then Shrimpers boss Phil Brown could well look to bring him back to Roots Hall.

“Unfortunately we've had to end Jakub's loan with us because of how serious the knee injury is but he could yet be coming back later in the season,” said the Blues boss.

“We've had to cancel the loan because otherwise we would just have an injured player on our hands.

“But we can have Jakub for 93 days and, depending on when the loan cancellation goes through, we could get him back for another 45 to 53 days which would work our much better.

“However, it's now all about how Jakub recovers from the injury and we wish him all the very best with his rehabilition.”

Sokolik, who also ended last season on loan with the Shrimpers, made just two appearances during his latest stint with Blues.

And he suffered the injury while back home in the Czech Republic.

“Jakub was running on a treadmill when he stopped after feeling something in his knee,” said Brown.

“He went back home to the Czech Republic on the weekend of the second round of the FA Cup when we didn't have a game and it should probably be considered as something of a freak injury to be honest.

“He's damaged his posterior cruciate ligaments and it's obviously a blow for him and ourselves.

“I think it could well lead to us having to look at bringing another defender to the club during the January transfer window.”