RYAN Clampin will again be absent for Colchester United’s home clash with Bristol Rovers tomorrow night after testing positive for Covid.

The 22-year-old left-back missed the U’s 1-0 win over Harrogate Town at the JobServe Community Stadium last Saturday, after testing positive for the virus last Friday.

He is currently embarking on a ten-day isolation period so will miss the game against Rovers, along with this weekend’s trip to play Port Vale.

Colchester boss Hayden Mullins said: “We lost Ryan (on Friday) with Covid.

“We were informed that he’d failed a test, so we lose him for ten days.

“It’s not affected the rest of the group and I think we’re doing a good job at the training ground after getting a few positives.

“I think we’re trying to keep on top of it and keep the boys quite far apart.

“Hopefully touch wood we don’t get any others.”

Colchester will check on the fitness of midfielder Alan Judge ahead of their game with Rovers after he missed the Harrogate win with a calf problem.

The former Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers midfielder has undergone a scan on the ailment, after suffering the injury in the U’s 2-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers, on October 8.

Meanwhile, U’s boss Mullins has praised teenage right-back Junior Tchamadeu following his impressive return to their starting line-up.

The 17-year-old produced a solid display against Harrogate, in his first league start since March.

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Mullins said: “Junior (Tchamadeu) coming into the back four did really well and Luke Chambers looked after him.

“We’ve got real confidence in Junior and he’s a good, young player.

“He’s strong – positionally, he still needs a little bit of help but he can pass a ball and get forward, so he’s got a really bright future but he was excellent.

“He’s only 17 – I could have rejigged it but I felt we needed a bit of pace in the right-back area.

“(Jack) Diamond who plays for them is a tricky young player and I thought it would be a good match up for Junior.

“Junior brought a lot of energy to the team and was bright at times as well.

“He drove through the middle and found some really good passes, so I thought he was very good.”

Mullins has also had words of praise for Sylvester Jasper, who came off the bench to score Colchester’s winner against Harrogate.

Jasper has had to bide his time in his pursuit of first-team opportunities for the U’s so far this season following his loan move from Championship club Fulham but impressed as a substitute, last weekend.

Mullins added: “Sylv has got goals in him and he’s a really good player.

“Technically in training, he’s excellent and hits the back of the net really, really well.

“He’s got a confidence about him, he’s bright and he wants the ball.

“He’s been unlucky in recent weeks not playing but he’s stuck with it.

“He’s a really good lad who trains well and is part of the group and I think he’s really starting to feel at home here.

“I’m really pleased for him to get his first goal and we hope that he can take it on and add more.”