Thompson suspended for Swindon game
Josh Thompson will miss the visit of Swindon as out-of-sorts Colchester aim to arrest their six-match losing run.
The defender saw red just 10 minutes into the 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at home to Brentford and now serves a one-match suspension.
Jabo Ibehre will again be assessed having missed the clash with the pulled stomach muscle sustained in last Saturday's disappointing 1-0 defeat at Walsall.
Fellow forward Freddie Sears also faces a race against time to be fit having missed out due to a dead leg.
Manager Joe Dunne made a total of five changes against the Bees, with Ibehre and Massey dropping out along with Brian Wilson, Michael Rose and Anthony Wordsworth.
The latter three will be pushing for recalls along with the likes of Magnus Okuonghae, Karl Duguid, John-Joe O'Toole and Andy Bond.
Alan Navarro is in contention for Swindon.
The 31-year-old midfielder has not played since October after damaging his medial ligaments during the 2-2 draw at Coventry but is hoping to be involved as the Robins look for a third consecutive win.
Navarro had hoped to feature on Boxing Day away at Leyton Orient but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Boss Paolo Di Canio is unlikely to be tempted into making changes from the side that thrashed Tranmere 5-0 at the County Ground in the club's last outing.
It was Swindon's second successive victory and clean sheet and Di Canio is expected to keep faith with the side that started both games.
The Robins remain without defender Jay McEveley, who is out for a further two months after undergoing knee surgery.
Source: PA
