Colchester United hope to have trio back for Carlisle United

COLCHESTER United are hoping to welcome back trio Owura Edwards, Teddy Bishop and Harry Anderson for their home game with Carlisle United tomorrow.

Edwards (hamstring) and Bishop (ankle) missed the 1-1 draw at Port Vale on Tuesday night, while winger Anderson has not featured since September 17, because of a groin injury.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley said: "They've been able to train, which is a real positive.

READ MORE: Colchester United's game with Fleetwood Town is postponed

"We're hopeful that Owura and Teddy will be available for the weekend but we'll have to see how they settle.

"Harry has trained Thursday and Friday last week and Saturday and had a clear week and will be available this weekend."

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

Cowley is urging his Colchester side to maintain their encouraging home form when they host Carlisle.

The U's have won two, drawn one and lost one of their opening four league games at the JobServe Community Stadium, this season and have also beaten Reading and MK Dons, in cup competitions.

Colchester's sole home league defeat this season came against Harrogate Town, where they lost 1-0 despite dominating the entire 90 minutes.

The U's are back in front of their own supporters this weekend after two tough away trips and boss Cowley wants them to make home advantage count.

READ MORE: Colchester United duo are called up for international duty

Cowley said: "We can't wait to be back at home, after two tough back to back away trips.

"It's always lovely to be at home in front of our supporters, who have been just brilliant.

"They've been so with us and it's been so appreciated.

"I have to say, the away support; those guys' commitment to the cause, particularly the ones that did Walsall on the Saturday and then bounced back and probably one or two day's work in between and managed to get themselves to Port Vale.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

"We're just so thankful to them and happy that we could send them home with a performance that I think they would have been proud of.

"Now to be back at home after a tough week is fantastic and we're looking forward to trying to put a really good performance together.

"We've been pleased with our performances at home, on the whole.

"The only defeat has been against Harrogate and it was a game that was probably one of our best performances.

READ MORE: Why Samson Tovide is keen to take leaf out of Haaland's book

"We're still kind of scratching our head to understand how we didn't take points from that one.

"Last time out at home to Tranmere it was a good performance, a clean sheet, three goals and both forwards scored.

"It was a good game and gives us something to build on and I also thought at Port Vale, the spirit and resilience that we showed off the back of Walsall was what we expect of each other.

"We want to be a resilient team and be a team that goes to the end and we want to be a team that never gives up.

"We showed those qualities on Tuesday night and now the ambition is to do that relentlessly and be really consistent and that's what I think as a group, we're working towards."