COLCHESTER United play host to Walsall in League Two tonight.

From likely line-ups to key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the game at the JobServe Community Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Team news

Colchester are likely to be without experienced midfielder Cole Skuse for tonight's game.

The former Ipswich Town and Bristol City man suffered a knee injury in the U's 1-0 win at Grimsby Town, last weekend.

He was forced off in the first half because of the injury and is unlikely to feature, against the Saddlers.

Gazette:

The U's will again be without defender Tom Dallison (knee) for the game, while goalkeeper Tom Smith (thigh) is also sidelined.

Alan Judge (knee) is a long-term absentee.

After opting for the same team for three successive games, Matt Bloomfield made three changes to his side for the game at Grimsby.

He has hinted he could make changes again, with the U's midway through a demanding week of fixtures.

Bloomfield said: “We’ve got a lot of travelling to do this week and we’re going to have to rotate the squad and make sure we get as many fresh legs on the pitch as we possibly can."

Gazette:

Predicted line-ups

Colchester: O'Hara, Chambers, Hall, Kelleher, Tchamadeu, Wood, Ashley, Read, Chilvers, Hopper, Appiah

Walsall: Evans, White, Low, Daniels, Comley, Gordon, Willmott, Knowles, Stevens, Hutchinson, Matt

Colchester head coach Matt Bloomfield on Walsall game:

“We’ve still got some really big games and we just want to keep driving forward as much as we possibly can.

“We’ve put a lot of work in on the training ground on both attacking and defensive play.

“We want to make sure that we’re resilient and resolute and hard to beat."

Gazette:

Opposition view

Walsall boss Michael Flynn on upcoming games (which include back-to-back home games after tonight's match against Colchester)

“You could say they all are (must win games) to be honest but certainly two home games against teams in the lower reaches of the league we have to take advantage of that.

“We do have a decent run of games coming up overall after Colchester but we have to make sure we win the majority – if not all of them.”

Gazette:

Key battle

Fiacre Kelleher has been in excellent form for Colchester since joining them from Bradford City in last month's transfer window.

He is set to come up against experienced striker Jamille Matt, who has had a habit of scoring against the U's over the years.

Last meeting

Colchester played out a 1-1 draw at Walsall when the two sides met, last September.

Frank Nouble gave the U's a second-minute lead at the Bescot Stadium, with Tom Knowles equalising for the Saddlers on the hour.

Gazette:

Referee

Sam Allison is the man in the middle for tonight's game.

He has shown 70 yellow cards and four reds in the 23 games he has presided over, this season.

Odds

Colchester are 13/8 to claim victory tonight, according to bookmakers Paddy Power. Walsall are viewed at 9/5, while the draw is 2/1.

League Two fixtures, tonight (kick-off 7.45pm)

Bradford City v Tranmere Rovers, Carlisle United v Mansfield Town, Colchester United v Walsall, Crewe Alexandra v Hartlepool United, Doncaster Rovers v Barrow, Gillingham v Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient v Rochdale, Newport County v Stevenage, Northampton Town v AFC Wimbledon, Salford City v Harrogate Town, Stockport County v Crawley Town, Sutton United v Swindon Town.