Meanwhile on-loan MK Dons midfielder Hiram Boateng is set to spend the next two months on the sidelines after surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

Colchester boss Steve Ball made a triple substitution to help his team fight back and earn a 1-1 draw at Port Vale last weekend.

Courtney Senior, Michael Folivi and Luke Gambin were introduced and will hope to have done enough to secure a starting berth at Cambridge.

Tom Lapslie remains absent with a hamstring issue and young midfielder Diaz Wright has also suffered a setback with his knee injury.

Captain Harry Pell has not featured so far this month due to a knee problem picked up during training.