SOUTHEND United winger Jack Bridge is closing in on his return from a double setback.

Bridge underwent surgery on a knee injury before also testing positive for coronavirus. But, after two months on the sidelines, the 26-year-old is now close to making a return to full training.

“We’re taking each day as it comes but hopefully I’ll be back sooner rather than later now,” said Bridge.

“It’s been horrible not being able to be involved and I’m itching to get back involved again. It’s obviously been frustrating and the timing was so annoying too.”

Bridge underwent surgery on his knee in November and had been back in training for two days before being forced back onto the sidelines.

“If I’d have got Covid when I was at home with my knee it wouldn’t have been so bad but I’d literally just got back to training with the boys when it happened,” said Bridge.

“It was nine days after that I was next in and it was a massive setback. I’ve been building myself back up from that but it’s been two months out now which is frustrating.”

And Bridge will not be rushing his return.

“When you get Covid and with how it affects the muscles and your breathing, everyone who has come back has followed a certain protocol to build themselves up to be ready for training again,” said Bridge.

“I’m doing that at the moment and getting myself back fit.”

But Bridge is no longer suffering any issues with his knee.

“It feels a lot better than it was,” said Bridge.

“I was playing on with it for a while until we knew what I had done to it. I knew it wasn’t right but it feels good now.”