Colchester United boss Mick Wadsworth is ready to make a last-minute dash into the transfer market following injuries to key strikers Lomana Tresor Lua Lua and Jamie Moralee.

The exciting Lua Lua and Moralee are both rated extremely doubtful by Wadsworth for Saturday's big Division Two kick-off at Chesterfield after collecting knocks in the 1-1 friendly draw with Workington AFC at the weekend.

Both players limped out of the action inside the opening ten minutes, Moralee - playing his first game since suffering a foot injury - after the first 60 seconds with an ankle injury, while Lua Lua damaged knee ligaments shortly afterwards.

To make matters worse, midfielder Steve Forbes is also rated as very doubtful for Chesterfield after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over Gateshead, also at Workington's Borough Park, on Friday.

Wadsworth said: "To lose Moralee and Lua Lua with the new season only days away would obviously be a hammer blow to my plans. They have formed a pretty good understanding up front in our pre-season games and I am very reluctant to change things around unless I really have to.

"The picture will become more clear as each day goes by, but as things stand now I may have to try to bring another player in."

Meanwhile, the U's beat Gateshead with goals from Jason Dozzell and Karl Duguid and forced a draw with Workington thanks to a last-minute equaliser from club captain David Gergory.

Wadsworth expressed his delight with both results in Cumbria and the U's pre-season form in general.

He said: "The two games at Workington were really hard workouts for us and I wouldn't have wanted things any other way. In fact the whole pre-season programme has gone very well and has been a great exercise for the lads."

Joe Dunne, has signed a two-year contract with Conference side Dover Athletic.

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