Injury list grows at Colchester United

The U’s could be without up to a dozen players for their game at Ashton Gate, as their injury crisis shows no sign of easing.

Goalkeeper Mark Cousins and young defender Mason Spence became the latest names added to the U’s lengthy list when they picked up knocks in their 5-2 friendly defeat against Crystal Palace, on Tuesday night.

Cousins needed stitches in a foot injury so Shaun Phillips is likely to be the U’s substitute goalkeeper tomorrow, while Spence suffered a hamstring injury.

The full list of Colchester players expected to miss the Bristol City game are: Mark Cousins (foot), Mason Spence (hamstring), Josh Thompson (ankle), Daniel Pappoe (suspended), Tom Eastman (ankle), Ryan Dickson (illness), Tosin Olufemi (thigh), Gavin Massey (hamstring), Sanchez Watt (thigh), Conor Hubble (dead leg) and Drey Wright (knee).

U’s boss Joe Dunne has said he may have to include untried youngsters on the substitutes bench for the game against the Robins.

Dunne said: “We’re in a difficult situation with all of these injuries at the moment and there’s no one common denominator.

“It’s a horrendous run of luck but what I’m doing is concentrate on the ones that we have got fit.

“But I think we’re doing OK, based on all of the problems we’re having with injuries.

“I think the players and my staff deserve a lot of credit for that, as does the chairman for helping me to bring players in.”

Meanwhile, U’s boss Dunne says he is not fooled by Bristol City’s lowly position in League One.

Sean O’Driscoll’s side are yet to win a league game this season, picking up only four points in that time.

“I’m sure that a lot of people will think that this is the moment when Bristol City grab their first win,” added Dunne.

“But we’re used to that at Colchester United, going to places where people have low expectation levels of us.

“They possess some very good players and Sean has the nucleus of what could be a very good Bristol City team."