He has been an ever-present for Colchester United in the league this season and one of their most outstanding performers.

So to say losing Sam Walker at such a crucial time in the campaign would be a blow for the U’s is something of an understatement.

The sight of the popular shot-stopper limping out of the Ricoh Arena and onto the team bus with strapping around his knee was a worrying one for U’s fans.

The former Chelsea youngster has performed consistently well throughout the campaign, so to lose him at such an important stage would be terrible timing.

Walker is naturally determined to be fit for tonight's trip to play Chesterfield, a game which Tony Humes’ side must not lose if they are to keep their realistic survival hopes alive.

The U's keeper is a driven and focused character and if there is any chance of him being on the pitch at the Proact Stadium tonight, he will be there.

But if the worst happens and Walker is ruled out, then Chris Lewington will step into the breach and make his long-awaited Football League bow for the U’s.

Lewington has waited patiently for his chance this season, having acted as Walker’s understudy since arriving from Dagenham and Redbridge last summer.

When he signed him for the U’s, Joe Dunne saw Lewington as being in with a genuine chance of challenging Walker for his place at the start of the season.

And he is regarded highly by Colchester goalkeeper coach Ademola Bankole, who works closely with him on the training ground almost every day.

Lewington has had to play a waiting game since then but with so much at stake in the coming days, there is now a chance that the former Charlton Athletic youngster could play his part in helping Colchester stay in the division.

And while it will undoubtedly be a big setback to lose a player of Walker’s calibre, the situation would nevertheless present an opportunity for Lewington to step out of the shadows and potentially write himself into U’s folklore.

For a three-page preview of the U's game at Chesterfield, see Tuesday's Daily Gazette.