Colchester v Stevenage preview

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Freddie Sears could be back in the fold for Colchester’s home encounter against Stevenage on Boxing Day.

The striker is back in training having recovered from a hamstring injury and it remains to be seen whether he is included in Joe Dunne’s matchday 18 against Boro.

Forwards Gavin Massey and Drey Wright are also closing in on their long-awaited returns from respective hamstring and knee injuries and may well be back in action early in the new year. Defender Josh Thompson also continues his recovery from an ankle problem.

Loanee Ben Tozer was on Monday recalled by parent club Northampton and will therefore not be involved.

Roarie Deacon and Michael Doughty will be added to the Stevenage squad for the trip to Colchester.

Forward Deacon and on-loan QPR midfielder Doughty missed Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Sheffield United through suspension.

Left-back Peter Hartley and striker Lucas Akins failed to shake off knocks in time to face the Blades so they will be checked over.

Skipper Jon Ashton, who feared he had broken his ankle against Port Vale the previous weekend, was passed fit and came through the entire 90 minutes so he will continue at the back.

Colchester v Stevenage preview

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Freddie Sears could be back in the fold for Colchester’s home encounter against Stevenage on Boxing Day.

The striker is back in training having recovered from a hamstring injury and it remains to be seen whether he is included in Joe Dunne’s matchday 18 against Boro.

Forwards Gavin Massey and Drey Wright are also closing in on their long-awaited returns from respective hamstring and knee injuries and may well be back in action early in the new year. Defender Josh Thompson also continues his recovery from an ankle problem.

Loanee Ben Tozer was on Monday recalled by parent club Northampton and will therefore not be involved.

Roarie Deacon and Michael Doughty will be added to the Stevenage squad for the trip to Colchester.

Forward Deacon and on-loan QPR midfielder Doughty missed Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Sheffield United through suspension.

Left-back Peter Hartley and striker Lucas Akins failed to shake off knocks in time to face the Blades so they will be checked over.

Skipper Jon Ashton, who feared he had broken his ankle against Port Vale the previous weekend, was passed fit and came through the entire 90 minutes so he will continue at the back.

Colchester v Stevenage preview

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Clinton Morrison starts a three-match suspension for Colchester.

The experienced striker saw red late on in Tuesday night’s 2-1 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Northampton and now misses the games against second-placed Boro, next Saturday’s home clash against Carlisle and the subsequent trip to Leyton Orient.

Morrison was recalled to manager Joe Dunne’s starting XI as one of seven changes for the cup encounter.

And Dunne is set to return to his strongest XI against Boro, meaning Michael Rose, Brian Wilson, Tom Eastman, Jabo Ibehre, Craig Eastmond, Gavin Massey and Sanchez Watt all come back into contention.

The U’s will be looking to get back on track having lost their last two games after a positive start to life under Dunne’s stewardship.

David Gray returns to the Stevenage squad.

The defender missed last weekend’s 1-0 win over Scunthorpe through suspension after collecting five yellow cards this season.

James Dunne deputised at right-back and should move back into midfield if Gray is recalled.

Centre-half Jon Ashton is still out with Boro now fearing his ongoing Achilles problem may require surgery, while striker Patrick Agyemang remains sidelined by a thigh injury.

Left-back Lee Hills’ debut is still on hold for at least another couple of weeks due to a thigh problem and forward Don Cowan is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Stevenage’s victory against Scunthorpe lifted them up to second place, their highest-ever position in the Football League.

Colchester v Stevenage preview

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Colchester will be without leading scorer Anthony Wordsworth for their home encounter against fellow play-off hopefuls Boro.

The midfielder bagged his eighth goal of the campaign to down Hartlepool 1-0 last weekend before then collecting his fifth booking, incurring an automatic one-match suspension.

His absence is likely to see John-Joe O’Toole, Kemal Izzet, Ben Coker and Steven Gillespie all competing to start in John Ward’s XI.

With the Us having recorded successive wins with an unchanged line-up, Ward is set to keep other changes to a minimum.

Defender Pat Baldwin made his return for the club’s reserves in midweek after over two months on the sidelines with a fractured toe and may earn a place in United’s matchday 16.

Winger Ashley Vincent is not yet ready to return from his torn hamstring.

Chris Beardsley is an injury doubt for Stevenage while fellow striker Ben May will definitely miss the trip to Colchester.

Leading scorer Beardsley suffered a hamstring injury during the 2-1 home win over Tranmere last weekend. The 27-year-old was forced off shortly after giving Boro a 38th-minute lead against Rovers with his eighth goal of the season.

He is set for a scan to determine the extent of the damage.

May will not be part of the squad that travels to Essex after he was sent off just 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute against Tranmere. He will begin a three-match suspension.

If both strikers are absent, Don Cowan could make his first start for the club. The Irishman, signed from League of Ireland Division One side Longford Town in August, finally made his long-awaited league debut for Boro as a late sub last weekend.

The 22-year-old has endured four miserable months in Hertfordshire that began with a lengthy spell waiting for international clearance, followed by a knee injury and then a extended spell of fitness-building before his first run-out.

Colchester v Stevenage preview

admin

Colchester will be without leading scorer Anthony Wordsworth for their home encounter against fellow play-off hopefuls Boro.

The midfielder bagged his eighth goal of the campaign to down Hartlepool 1-0 last weekend before then collecting his fifth booking, incurring an automatic one-match suspension.

His absence is likely to see John-Joe O’Toole, Kemal Izzet, Ben Coker and Steven Gillespie all competing to start in John Ward’s XI.

With the Us having recorded successive wins with an unchanged line-up, Ward is set to keep other changes to a minimum.

Defender Pat Baldwin made his return for the club’s reserves in midweek after over two months on the sidelines with a fractured toe and may earn a place in United’s matchday 16.

Winger Ashley Vincent is not yet ready to return from his torn hamstring.

Chris Beardsley is an injury doubt for Stevenage while fellow striker Ben May will definitely miss the trip to Colchester.

Leading scorer Beardsley suffered a hamstring injury during the 2-1 home win over Tranmere last weekend. The 27-year-old was forced off shortly after giving Boro a 38th-minute lead against Rovers with his eighth goal of the season.

He is set for a scan to determine the extent of the damage.

May will not be part of the squad that travels to Essex after he was sent off just 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute against Tranmere. He will begin a three-match suspension.

If both strikers are absent, Don Cowan could make his first start for the club. The Irishman, signed from League of Ireland Division One side Longford Town in August, finally made his long-awaited league debut for Boro as a late sub last weekend.

The 22-year-old has endured four miserable months in Hertfordshire that began with a lengthy spell waiting for international clearance, followed by a knee injury and then a extended spell of fitness-building before his first run-out.