COLCHESTER United interim head coach Wayne Brown says having a week between fixtures has given some of their injured players extra recovery time ahead of their game against Scunthorpe United tomorrow.

The U's are hoping to welcome back key players for their important trip to play League Two's bottom side, at Glanford Park.

Cole Skuse, Alan Judge and Owura Edwards all missed Colchester's 1-0 win over Port Vale last weekend, due to injury.

Brown said: “There’s one or two who can be closer to the squad now.

“For lads that have got niggles and knocks, it gives them a bit of time in between fixtures which is great.

“It also gives us a little bit of time to wrap them up a little bit, because it has been quite a hectic fixture list over the last couple of weeks.

“We’ve given them a little bit of time away from the environment, because with the week coming up with two tough away games coming up and lots of travelling it’s about managing the group with the time that you’ve got with them and trying to use it in the best way you feel is appropriate."

Gazette:

Colchester will have captain Tommy Smith (pictured above) available for the game at Scunthorpe.

The experienced defender has been called up for New Zealand for their upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Oceania qualifiers in Qatar.

The 31-year-old has been named in the All Whites squad for the tournament, where they will be aiming to earn a spot at the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar.

Smith, who has 42 caps for his country, will be available for Colchester's game at Scunthorpe and also for their trip to face play-off chasing Bristol Rovers, next Tuesday.

However, the former Ipswich Town defender is set to miss the U's upcoming games fixtures against Forest Green Rovers (March 21) and Tranmere Rovers (March 26), as a result of his call-up.

“It’s brilliant for Smudge to get called up again," said Brown.

“It just shows you the lad that he is and the quality that he’s got to still be involved in and around international duty.

“Thankfully, we’ve got him around for the next two fixtures, which will be massive for us."