DEFENDER Kieran Charnock is bracing himself for a real battle, not just to get over his current knee injury but also to break back into Torquay United's first team.

Charnock, 25, who has missed United's last six matches, hopes to be back in action within a fortnight.

It's just the latest setback in a stop-start season for the former Wigan, Northwich and Peterborough centre-back.

But now Charnock says: "Although I was going a bit nuts with it all before, I can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel now.

"It's taken longer than I hoped.

"But by the end of this week, or the start of next week, I should be back training with the lads again."

In Charnock's absence, loan signing Guy Branston has proved a more than adequate replacement.

"Guy has done really well, and so has Mark Ellis," said Charnock, who cost £10,000 from Posh last summer.

"They seem to have struck up a decent partnership.

"So I know I'll have to fight for my place back.

"I did play with Guy, at Crewe and then against Port Vale a couple of weeks later, when I played on the right and he was on the left.

"When you've always played on the left, it takes a bit of time to get used to.

"I got a knock just before half-but time at Crewe (1-1), and the gaffer said it wasn't worth risking and took me off.

"I missed the game at Hereford (0-1) a few days later, but I was back for Port Vale (1-2) at home, and I thought I had a fairly decent game then."

Charnock's right knee flared up before United's trip to Rotherham on February 19.

"The injury wasn't from a tackle. It just came on steadily," he said.

"I did play with it for a while, because it wasn't really affecting me.

"But just before the Rotherham game it went on me."

Charnock has progressed with treatment from physio Pete Morgan and now from the club's new 'spongeman' Aaran Eade.

"I can run OK, and I should be able to do the rest by next week," Charnock added.

Meanwhile, United are still digesting their 2-1 defeat at Bideford in the Westinsure Devon St. Luke's Cup on Tuesday night.

After Mustapha Carayol gave the Gulls an eleventh minute lead, they could not follow up despite plenty of possession.

It was two former Plainmoor youngsters, striker Ellis Laight and midfielder Clay Bond, who scored the goals which carried the Toolstation Western League Premier leaders into the semi-finals.

Laight, now 33, equalised in the 20th minute.

There are several men in the Bideford camp with United connections, including manager Sean Joyce and players Laight, Bond and midfielder Matt Hockley.

So, at the end of a disappointing evening for United, there was delight in the home camp when Bond scored the winner from close range in the 89th minute.

Striker Ashley Yeoman, who is on-loan at Bideford but was cup-tied, played for the Gulls.

United lined up: Searle; Thompson, Palmer, Nicholson, Milton; Macklin (Taylor), O'Kane, Stevens, Thomson; Carayol, Yeoman (Halpin); subs not used — Hemming, Spear, TJ Lang.