Colchester boss John Ward has no fresh injury or suspension concerns and is likely to name an unchanged squad for the home clash with Southampton.
John-Joe O'Toole returned to the squad for the 1-0 midweek win over relegation battlers Bristol Rovers following 10 months on the sidelines with a serious knee injury and replaced Kemal Izzet for the final 12 minutes.
The Irish midfielder is set to retain his place among the substitutes after coming through his cameo unscathed.
Defender Magnus Okuonghae will be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an ankle problem, while fellow defenders Brian Wilson and Morten Knudsen have returned to training following ankle and knee problems respectively but the game will come too soon for them.
The U's will be hoping to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they take on the Saints.
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins will check on the fitness of Guly Do Prado before naming his squad for the trip to Colchester.
The Brazilian midfielder, who missed the 1-0 midweek defeat at Walsall after suffering a hamstring injury during the second-half of last Saturday's 4-1 thumping of Swindon, could make a swift return against the U's.
Defender Dan Seaborne, as well as strikers Jonathan Forte and David Connolly, are also pushing for a return to the squad after recovering from minor niggles, with all three expected to be involved.
However, goalkeeper James Shea returned to parent-club Arsenal before Tuesday night's game so Tommy Forecast will continue on the substitutes bench in the absence of back-up keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who may require surgery on a knee injury.
