COLCHESTER United are hoping Ellis Iandolo will be available for their trip to play Salford City after he received positive news on his quad injury.

The 26-year-old was forced to sit out the U’s 1-1 draw with Bradford City last weekend, after suffering the ailment last week.

Iandolo, who missed the first four months of the season due to an ankle injury, underwent a scan to determine the extent of the injury.

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And U’s boss Danny Cowley is hoping the former Swindon Town left-back can be available for their next League Two game at Salford, on Friday night.

Cowley said: “We had a really positive scan, which was good.

“That allows us to be really hopeful for what is to come.

“It’s certainly very short term so we’re hoping that he’s going to be back for the weekend, if not, then the Saturday after.

Gazette:

“Ellis had a feeling in his quad.

“We initially thought it was just a little bit of fatigue but he just had a bit of feeling in his rectus femoris, which is the kicking muscle.

“He’s just kind of torn a few fibres in what is a very powerful muscle and because of the nature of that muscle, we probably have to be over protective of him at this moment.”

Colchester started centre-back Tom Dallison at left-back, in the absence of Iandolo.

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Al-Amin Kazeem was also missing against Bradford as he looks to increase his fitness levels.

The 21-year-old missed two months of the season with an ankle injury but returned to the U’s set-up over the festive period.

“Al is still trying to develop his fitness,” said Cowley.

“He played 60 minutes against Walthamstow last week and his fitness is still trying to grow and build.

“We’re trying to get him match ready but he obviously offers a wonderful solution and incredible athleticism.

Gazette:

“He runs at over ten metres a second which is very, very rare; at the League One and League Two teams I’ve managed, I don’t think I’ve ever had a boy who can run ten metres a second.

“Him and O (Owura Edwards) were both over ten metres per second, Jayden Richardson close, too.

“We definitely have some real athleticism in our group, which is fantastic because we know that speed can be so important to individual performance.

“Your ability to execute at speed kind of finds the levels.

“The players who are able to execute both decision making and technical competency at speed can normally transition through the levels.

“We’re so excited to work with Al and we’re looking forward to what we think can be a really bright future for him.”