SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has yet to discover how long Harry Kyprianou will spend on the sidelines.

Kyprianou - who has started Blues’ last seven games - suffered a thigh injury midway through the first half at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

But Brown does not yet know how serious the youngster’s setback will prove to be.

“It’s a big disappointment for us and for Harry as well because of how well he had been doing but it’s impossible to put a time limit on the injury just yet,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“Unfortunately, there’s a fairly significant pull but we’re obviously hopeful he’s not going to be out for too long because the way he’s been playing means we want to have him back as quickly as possible.”

Prior to Kyprianou’s injury, Blues had been beaten in just one of the seven games he had started, while all three of the clean sheets Southend have secured this season came with Kyprianou in the starting line-up.

All four of Doncaster’s goals at the weekend came after Kyprianou limped off with an injury which still mystifies Brown.

“I asked Harry if he thought the injury had come as a result of the hard work we had done in the week but he actually said he felt stiffer ahead of the game on Tuesday than he did before the one on Saturday,” said Brown.

“He said he felt good going into the game, so it’s a mysterious one really.

“We will know more after he’s had a scan but hopefully he’s not going to be out for too long.”

Kyprianou - who suffered a groin injury last season - will miss this weekend’s trip to Wigan Athletic and, with Anton Ferdinand also out suspended, Blues could be desperately short of centre-backs for the clash against the Latics.

John White - who came on as a substitute on Saturday - looks certain to start, while Ryan Leonard could again drop back to line-up in defence.

But Brown is not sure if Michael Turner - who has yet to figure this season - will also be in contention as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

“We were thinking of playing Michael in the under-23s at Colchester United today but it’s highly doubtful that will happen now,” said Brown.

“I’ll decide this morning but if he can play an under-23 game he can play for the first team.

“Now is the time for men to step up to the plate so we will have to see what happens with Michael and also with Rob Kiernan and the injury he’s got as well.”