Wednesday 20 July 2011 11:29, UK
Colchester goalkeeper Ben Williams has been released from hospital and is set to return to the League One club this week.
The 28-year-old had spent over a week receiving medical care to treat a viral infection picked up during the club's recent training camp in Holland, with Williams initially spending time in hospital in Arnhem before flying back to his native north east. But he was finally released on Tuesday, and manager John Ward told the club's official website: "We're very hopeful we will get Ben back in the football club on Wednesday or Thursday. "The illness has taken a lot out of him, with nine or 10 days in hospital. It was pretty severe for him and was worse than we imagined really." Meanwhile, the U's triumphed 1-0 over non-league Braintree on Tuesday night, Steven Gillespie converting the only goal of the game from the penalty spot. The pre-season encounter was a benefit match for former Colchester striker Jamie Guy, who suffered a badly broken leg playing for Braintree last season.