Colchester are without Anthony Wordsworth.
The U's have lost their last eight games and are just one point above their opponents, who are in the relegation zone.
Boss Joe Dunne goes into the game without Wordsworth after the midfielder picked up a 10th booking of the campaign during the 1-0 defeat to Doncaster at the weekend and starts a two-match ban.
Fellow midfielder Kem Izzet is a doubt after suffering an ankle problem at Doncaster last time out.
But defender Tom Eastman is hoping to make a return to the side after taking part in training this week. The 21-year-old has missed the last two games after suffering a dead leg in training on New Year's Eve.
Scunthorpe's new signing Akpo Sodje is hoping to make his debut for his latest club.
Sodje, at his 15th club, has teamed back up with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws following his recent release from Preston and will be included in the squad.
But Laws will be without midfielder Damien Mozika, who tore a hamstring in last week's goalless home draw with Shrewsbury and is expected to be sidelined for a month.
Andy Barcham replaced Mozika last weekend and is likely to return to the starting line-up in the Frenchman's absence.
Karl Hawley partnered Nathan Ellington up front against Shrewsbury, while fellow striker Mike Grella appeared as a second half substitute and all three will be vying with Sodje for a place in the starting line-up.
Central defender David Mirfin, sidelined since the beginning of November with knee ligament damage, and midfielder Josh Walker (ankle), who has missed the last five games, are both hoping to return to the squad.
