LYLE Taylor missed Colchester United's defeat at AFC Wimbledon due to a calf injury, boss Danny Cowley has confirmed.

The U's summer signing was denied a chance to return to play one of his former clubs after picking up the injury in training, on Tuesday.

Taylor, 34, joined Colchester on a one-year deal from Cambridge United, earlier this summer.

U's boss Cowley said: "It was disappointing not to have Lyle available but this is football and these are the cards we've been dealt with.

READ MORE: Danny Cowley gives verdict on U's defeat at AFC Wimbledon

"It's a very low level calf injury.

"He just felt it in the warm-up on Tuesday, in training.

"It was really innocuous so we just have to rehab that and make sure that he's OK.

"Tuesday will be too soon for him but we'll have to wait and see, after that."

Cowley also revealed that forward Bradley Ihionvien was 'touch and go' prior to the AFC Wimbledon game.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

The 20-year-old also picked up an injury in training last week but was passed fit and played for 67 minutes of the U's defeat, at Plough Lane.

"We had a difficult week losing Lyle on Tuesday and Bradley on Tuesday," said Cowley.

"Bradley was touch and go, right up until kick-off so that wasn't easy and that was something we had to deal with.

"Bradley hadn't trained since Tuesday, so we had to be careful with him."

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Ihionvien started in attack alongside Samson Tovide, who also managed 67 minutes after being eased into the new season following his ankle injury, last season.

"Samson was such a handful," added Cowley.

"We didn't anticipate Samson starting the game.

"He'd had a more gradual way into pre-season but we'd had a difficult week losing Lyle and Bradley, on Tuesday.

"I thought first half, we looked a real handful and then we had to be sensible with Samson, for sure, because he's only maybe 45 minutes fit.

"He played 60 minutes just on pure emotion, I think."