Colchester United boss John McGreal provides injury update

COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal says he is ‘hopeful’ his injured key trio will be fit to face Cheltenham Town in a top-six clash, this weekend.

Callum Harriott (Achilles), Luke Norris (ankle) and Ryan Jackson (hamstring) all suffered injures in the U’s 2-1 win at Salford City, last Saturday.

All three players were forced off the field as a result at Moor Lane but McGreal is optimistic that they will recover in time to face the Robins, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Speaking at today's U's pre-match press call at Florence Park, boss McGreal said: “We’re really hopeful that they should be fit.

“It was a different type of performance (at Salford), from first half to second half.

“We’re getting good vibes from the different boys who were injured.

“We’re assessing at the minute but we are hopeful.

“Had we had a midweek game this week, I don’t think the injured boys would have been available.

“It’s just given us that little bit of extra time to get a little bit of strengthening work in to them that we’ve felt that they’ve needed and also to improve on the performance we produced, the week before.

“We’ve had a good week’s training and the boys have been dropping in with little bits of work that they’ve been able to do.

“We obviously have to be mindful of what happened last week (at Salford) but we’re continuingly assessing, day by day.

“It hasn’t been an off week - it’s been a week where we’ve been continually trying to work on things in training.”

New signing Miles Welch-Hayes could be included in Colchester’s squad for their game against Cheltenham.

The 23-year-old defender, who joined the U’s last week from Macclesfield Town, has not made a competitive appearance since featuring in the Silkmen’s 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic, on January 11.

“Miles had a game on Tuesday and played an hour,” added McGreal.

“He needed a game having spoken to members of staff and he’s missed a lot of football and looked a little bit rusty.

“He’s been brought into the squad for his first (training) session today (Thursday).

“Having spoken to him this morning, he felt he needed it just to blow away the cobwebs.

“He was injured and then he was out of contract – he was a little bit stuck in the middle.

“He’s a little bit behind but he’s now had a game and training sessions and he’s generally a fit boy anyway, looking at the style of player he is.”