Colchester United first team regulars Ross Johnson and Joe Keith have emerged as doubts ahead of Saturday's clash at Wycombe.

The pair have been laid low by illness this week and unable to take part in training.

And Steve Whitton has made enquiries about keeping Arsenal loanee Graham Barrett beyond the end of this season.

Please stay - U's boss Whitton wants Graham Barrett to stay longer at Colchester

He said: "I'm not very hopeful but had to ask the question. Graham has great potential and has done really well for us, so it would be a real boost to keep him."

Meanwhile young central defender Ollie Blackwell, who signed a one-year contract at the end of last season, has been released by the U's.

Whitton said: "Ollie is a great kid and I hated having to tell him. We are circulating his name to all the other clubs and will be doing all we can to help him get fixed up."

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Published Thursday, March 21, 2002