Colchester manager Aidy Boothroyd could welcome defender Paul Reid back into his squad for the League One visit of Brighton on Monday night.

Reid has been out for a month with a calf injury but is close to returning while fellow centre-half and skipper Magnus Okuonghae is pushing for a start after being left on the bench for last weekend's defeat by Bristol Rovers.

Okuonghae, who missed the previous game against Oldham with a shoulder injury, is fully fit and could come back in for Danny Batth.

Full-back Lee Beevers, who has been sidelined since the opening weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, now has a knee problem which will keep him out again.

Strikers Kevin Lisbie and Kayode Odejayi came on as subs last week and could be in the starting line-up.