Gilbert: 'Surgery was unfortunately the only option'
Left-back Peter Gilbert may well have just been under the surgeon's knife due to a hernia problem but he still wants to get back into Blues boss Paul Sturrock's thoughts as soon as possible, and he only has five League Two fixtures left to do it.
Gilbert told www.echo-news.co.uk: "I don't want to end my season on the treatment table. Ideally I want to get back and play and hopefully that can happen. At the same time, it's important not to push it and we won't be taking any risks. I didn't want to miss games but it got to the stage when I was struggling to walk when I woke up in the morning. The pain was just too much and I just couldn't have played with it any longer, so surgery was unfortunately the only option."
The former Northampton defender limped off in the defeat against Lincoln City and though he could have returned earlier, once it was obvious the play-offs were beyond Southend it was felt the operation was the best for all parties and that he wouldn't be seen again until pre-season training resumed sometimes in June.
However, once he's checked in with the surgeon responsible for the operation, Peter is gagging to see some action, if only to show the faithful that they've not seen the best of the the 27-year-old former Welsh Under-21 international just yet.
Gilbert concluded: "I'm my own worst critic and I don't think I've been consistent enough this season."