Colchester United will check on the fitness of Johnnie Jackson ahead of tomorrow's clash with Leyton Orient at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The versatile midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in the U's 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium on Boxing Day and was replaced by Steven Gillespie with 17 minutes to go.

Colchester boss Paul Lambert must decide whether to recall striker Scott Vernon for the visit of the O's, after the striker came off the bench to score the U's winner at Brighton.

The U's will be looking for revenge tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm), after Martin Ling's side knocked them out of the FA Cup in November, winning 1-0 at the Community Stadium.

However, Colchester are six points clear of Orient in the Coca-Cola League One table and a win tomorrow could lift them as high as 11th in the table.

The O's were beaten 2-1 at home by Swindon Town on Boxing Day but U's manager Lambert is nevertheless expecting a difficult game.

He said: “We're not that brilliant a side that I can turn around and say that we're going to win every game.

“They turned us over and deservedly so in the FA Cup game but we're certainly playing well enough to win it.”