Speaking to the Southend Evening Echo Blues boss Steve Tilson said: "Jean's going to be out for between two to four weeks with the hamstring injury. It's disappointing for both him and ourselves but his loan spell was ending after Saturday anyway so we're just going to be without him for one game more than we originally expected."
Tilson hopes Christophe will soon be back in a Shrimpers shirt and is still confident of completing a permanent move for the 21-year-old when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Tilly confirmed: "Things are close to being sorted on that front, we are waiting for his agent to come back and it's pretty much done."
Without Christophe this weekend Tilson could hand Anthony Grant a recall in the centre of the park or he may opt to move the on-loan Rob Milsom into his more natural position. Milsom, who is on Fulham's books, has figured on the left flank so far for the Shrimpers but could move inside against the Foxes.
"I have one or two different options in there" said Tilson. "I'll have a think about things and then go from there."
Having just recovered from a chest infection, Southend United striker Alex Revell is now suffering from cup fever. The 25-year-old forward and his team-mates will take on Premier League giants Chelsea in January in the third round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. Alex Revell v John Terry?!!
Revell, speaking about the cup game, said: "It's just an unbelievable draw and these are the type of players you dream of taking on. It just couldn't have been any better and it was what everyone was speaking about during training yesterday."
However he knows promotion remains the club's main priority: "That is our main ambition and it's what we're going to be judged on. We want to win promotion to get the club back into the Championship and we think we can do it. We have been a little bit inconsistent lately but the win over Luton, along with the cup draw, has given us a lift and we want to build on that now and get another unbeaten run going."
But against Leicester away?: "It's the hardest game we could be having right now but it's one we're looking forward to. They may be flying at the moment but we went to Scunthorpe when they were top and were unlucky to only get a point in the end, so that shows what can happen.
As for his illness: "I'm feeling much better again now. I'm still on antibiotics but I'm getting there. People are winding me up saying I had man flu but it was certainly a lot worse than that. I was in bed for two days but I'm over it now and looking forward to all these important games we have coming up."
Meanwhile the forgotten men, striker Lee Barnard and Dougie Freedman, are struggling back, Lee maybe even quick enough for Saturday, though none of us want another Scunthorpe away where he limped off at half-time.
The good Lord has had his calf problem but, however frustrated, knows it got to be right this time: "Things were going well before the injuries and now I've suffered quite a disruption, which is never ideal. It will be great to get back out there and, if I don't make it in time for Leicester, then I should definitely be available against Huddersfield. I'm still getting the odd twinge in my hamstring which is to be expected but it's nothing to worry about. My calf is fine too and I'm feeling positive about things. I'm so keen to come back that I've over-done things at times and caused more problems for myself. I've learnt from that and won't come back until I'm ready but I don't think that's too far away now."
With Dougie, it's his dodgy thigh, but he also may be running around with the rest of the lads giving it a try-out sooner rather than later.
"Dougie is working incredibly hard to get back," said manager Tilson. "He's doing everything he can and should soon be back in training."