SOUTHEND United winger Michael Kightly is expected to return from a hamstring injury within the next three weeks.

Blues originally feared the 31-year-old would be missing for two or three months with the problem he sustained against Charlton Athletic at the start of September.

But Shrimpers boss Phil Brown is now hoping to have Kightly back in his plans by mid-October.

“Michael has had another scan and the diagnosis of the rupture is a lot less severe than we first thought,” said Brown.

“It’s two or three weeks rather than two or three months but he’s in a good place.

“He’s feeling very positive about himself so that’s obviously good news because we feared we were going to be without him for much longer.”

And Brown is also hoping centre-back Rob Kiernan will also soon be back in action.

Kiernan has missed the Shrimpers’ last seven games with a knee problem but is now pushing for a return.

“We’ve had a couple of meetings with consultants about Rob and we’ve decided on a course of action so hopefully in a couple of weeks we will see him playing, either in an under 23 game or in the Checkatrade Trophy,” said Brown.

“I had a meeting with the chairman and (physio) Ben Clarkson on Wednesday to discuss a plan of attack moving forward with our injuries and the important thing is they’re moving in the right direction.

“It’s all very positive.”

And Blues are also trying something different to get summer signing Michael Turner back fit.

Turner has yet to feature this season after suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season but is now nearing a return to action.

“There’s a change of mentality with the approach to Michael Turner’s treatment,” said Brown.

“He’s feeling more positive because I think he was maybe stagnating a bit and hopefully he won’t be out for too much longer now.”

However, Brown is not sure whether or not it is a coincidence the injuries have all been suffered by new recruits.

“Maybe we’re fitter and stronger than when the players first came in and maybe the regime I’m putting them through is affecting them negatively,” said Brown.

“Michael Turner suffered his injury in a pre-season friendly after two and half weeks of a rigorous programme, while throwing Rob Kiernan in the deep end against Rotherham and Newport could have caused his.

“There are lots of components and is it a coincidence the injured players are new signings? I’m not sure.”