COLCHESTER United will check on the fitness of key midfielder Arthur Read ahead of their home clash with Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

The former Stevenage man missed the U’s 1-0 defeat at Harrogate Town last weekend due to a calf injury.

Read has undergone a scan on the injury and U's boss Danny Cowley says the outcome will determine whether or not he can be considered for the Accrington clash.

READ MORE: Connor Hall 'reconnected' with U's fans after Cowleys' arrival

U’s boss Danny Cowley said: “He had a scan earlier in the week and we’re awaiting those results.

“It’s really, really low level and it’s a calf strain he picked up in the game against Forest Green.

“We’ve scanned it just to know how aggressive we can be with his rehab, so there’s a possibility that he can be fit for Saturday if the scan comes back clean.

“With the work that he’s done in the gym and outside, he can’t feel it but we just wanted the scan results just to know if we can be aggressive, with the rest of the rehab.”

Gazette:

Read has been a key player for Colchester so far, this season.

The 24-year-old scored their winner at Morecambe last month with a brilliant free-kick and has made 32 league and cup appearances in total for the U's so far in the 2023-24 campaign, scoring five times.

“For me, he’s one of the best sixes in the division so whenever you lose a player of that quality, of course you’re going to miss him," added Cowley.

READ MORE: Grimsby fans still get their Essex football fix despite U's call-off

"But in disappointment, it’s best to be the optimist and see the opportunity for somebody else.

“Noah Chilvers was excellent in the first half at Harrogate; we’ve also got Jay Mingi and Cam McGeehan who can play in that position and young Marley (Marshall Miranda) who did ever so well in our first game at Swindon.

“We have options but of course, Arthur is a big player, a top player at this level."