John McGreal says he is likely to leave it until as late as possible to choose his Colchester United starting line-up for their clash with Yeovil Town tomorrow.

The U’s head coach once again has a number of selection posers ahead of the League Two game at Huish Park, with question marks hanging over the fitness of a number of players.

Skipper Tom Lapslie returns from suspension, after sitting out the 2-2 draw at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night after serving a one-match ban.

But McGreal will check on the fitness of Doug Loft and Kyel Reid, who have both recently returned from injury along with striker Brandon Hanlan, who has been nursing a groin problem.

Defender Tom Eastman will also be monitored ahead of the game against the Glovers, after he missed the Grimsby draw with a hamstring injury.

McGreal will definitely be without forward Sammie Szmodics, who will now be out for a number of weeks after being stretchered off against Grimsby with an ankle injury.

Kurtis Guthrie is not yet ready to return from his long-term ankle injury despite playing the final half an hour of Colchester’s under-23 draw with Millwall, on Monday night.

With the likes of Craig Slater, Brennan Dickenson and Luke Prosser still sidelined, boss McGreal still has selection issues.

McGreal said: “We’ll be picking the team as late as possible.

“I don’t get bogged down with injuries – we’ve got a squad of players and a great under-23s who are doing particularly well, so it gives opportunities to others.

“We have to utilise our squad because that’s what other clubs do.

“It’s just the nature of the league but it’s just as well we’ve got those loans in because they’re coming in handy and it’s good to know we can freshen things up.”

Colchester switched to a 4-4-2 formation for their game against Grimsby – and boss McGreal says it could be something he considers for future away games.

“Four at the back was forced upon us, because of injuries and such like,” said McGreal.

“We know we have Cole (Kpekawa) and Cameron (James) who can fill in there so it’s a bit more food for thought for tomorrow.

“We have the options there to get that balance that we’ve been missing without the likes of Luke (Prosser).

“It possibly gives me some food for thought for future away games.”

Szmodics is set to be out for “weeks rather than months” after being carried off against Grimsby.

It had been feared that the former Stanway School pupil, who broke the same leg last season, might be out for a prolonged period but McGreal says the diagnosis is better than expected.

McGreal said: “We’ve spoken with (physio) Tony (Flynn) and Sam and it’s more like an ankle ligament injury, so we’re looking more weeks than months.

“It’s good news in a way because we thought he might have had a little bit of a re-break down the bottom of his left leg.

“It’s great news that the injury isn’t more serious but it’s a huge blow.

“We took him out of the team at Grimsby to give him a bit of a breather but we wanted to bring him on, because he does affect the game.

“We’ve lost him but it gives other boys opportunities.”

Colchester lie just three points off Yeovil in the League Two table, with the Glovers having won three, drawn three and lost four of their opening ten games. Only four teams have scored more goals than Darren Way’s side in the league so far this season but they have shipped 23 goals, with only bottom side Forest Green Rovers having conceded more.

McGreal said: “Yeovil have been very similar to us at both ends.

“We’ve looked at the videos and they’ve scored a few goals and conceded a few.

“We know that it’s going to be a tough place to go and try and get points and we all know what happened there, last year when we were winning and ended up losing the game, late on.

“Darren (Way) has got his team set up to try and get points in the right way but it’s down to us and what we do.”