FORMER Southend United midfielder Gary Deegan will miss the start of the season with blood poisoning.

The Irishman, who is now with League Two side Cambridge United, has been in hospital for 10 days and has already had three operation.

And Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood is unsure when the 31-year-old will be back in action. 

"Poor old Gary has had a real serious condition, which has been sorted out this week," Calderwood told BBC Radio Cambridge. 

"All that work that he's done through the summer, and his life, has really been put on hold."

"It'll be a considerable time I think and he's got to wait until everything settles down in his body a little bit.

"From a personal point of view, with his wife being pregnant and him in a hospital, it's tough."

Deegan was with Blues between 2014 and 2016, making 53 appearances for the club.