Colchester United vs Morecambe. Sky Bet League Two.
Weston Homes Community StadiumAttendance2,872.
Friday 17 November 2017 13:37, UK
Colchester attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics is pressing for a start for the Sky Bet League Two visit of Morecambe.
Szmodics, fit again from an ankle problem, came off the bench to score a late winner at Barnet. Midfielder Sean Murray is still sidelined following knee surgery, while forward Kurtis Guthrie continues his protracted recovery from long-term ankle trouble.
Winger Brennan Dickenson, club captain Luke Prosser and midfielder Courtney Senior also continue their rehabilitation from respective knee problems.
It remains to be seen whether Morecambe striker Rhys Turner makes his return to league action in the contest. Turner played in the Checkatrade Trophy last week after missing three games due to a groin problem, then sat out Saturday's 2-1 victory over Wycombe. Luke Conlan was also absent for that victory.
Fellow defender Dean Winnard, who has played in only two of the last 13 matches in all competitions, will not be travelling. And 20-year-old forward Reece Deakin is sidelined by a broken leg.
This will be only the third meeting between these two sides in the EFL, having met for the first time in their histories last season.
Both games finished at a deadlock - 2-2 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, before drawing 1-1 at the Globe Arena.
Colchester are looking to record a third consecutive league victory in this game, something they haven't done since January 2017 (a run of five wins).
Morecambe, meanwhile, are looking to record consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2017, when they beat Leyton Orient and Cambridge back-to-back.
Mikael Mandron has scored five goals in seven league appearances for Colchester at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Adam McGurk has netted three of Morecambe's last four goals in League Two, and is their joint-top scorer with four overall this season (along with Kevin Ellison).
