RYAN Jackson will undergo a scan after missing Colchester United’s friendly win at Wealdstone, last night.

The experienced right-back, who was the U’s Players' Player of the Year last season, was forced to sit out his side’s 3-0 win at their National League South opponents with a stomach injury.

It is a concern for Colchester with the new League Two season little more than a fortnight away and boss John McGreal admits Jackson’s absence leaves them short of options at right-back.

Kane Vincent-Young, who played all of last season at left-back, switched over to the opposite flank for the opening hour at Wealdstone, with Noah Chilvers filling the berth in the final half hour.

And Cameron James, who played at left-back against Wealdstone, has impressed at right-back in pre-season having played as a midfielder for the majority of his loan spell at Braintree Town, last season.

McGreal said: “Ryan’s struggling with a bit of a stomach injury, at the moment.

“He’s going to have a scan and it’s one that we have to be careful of.

“We’re just hoping that it’s not too sinister and that a little bit of rest should be good for him.

“It does leave us a little bit short at right-back.

“We played Kane (Vincent-Young) there for the first hour (against Wealdstone) and Noah Chilvers there are that, with Dean Ager at left-back.”

Colchester were also without youngster Ryan Clampin at Wealdstone.

The left-back missed the club’s pre-season training camp in Cheshire and has not been training, over recent days.

“Ryan thought he had mumps last week – he didn’t but he’s had a migraine over the weekend," said McGreal.

"He hasn’t been able to train so he’ll be falling short with his fitness levels, at the moment.

Goalkeeper Dillon Barnes was also missing from the Colchester squad for the Wealdstone game, fuelling speculation that he is to leave the club.

Barnes, who played 26 games for the U’s last season, is yet to sign the new contract offered to him by the club earlier this summer.

And following Dean Gerken’s arrival last week, it could be that the former Fulham youngster is about to move on to pastures new.

Colchester ran out winners at Wealdstone, thanks to goals from Paris Cowan-Hall, Michael Fernandes and Luke Gambin.

McGreal added: “It was another firm test against a team that’s expected to do well in the Conference South.

“I thought we started really well and for half an hour, the things we’ve been working on in training were evident.

“We got a little bit sloppy in the last 15 minutes of the first half and they forced a few corners but I was really pleased before that.

“We dominated the second half but it’s just having that clinical edge really, given the opportunities that we’re getting in the box.

“It will come and we have two and a half weeks to continue to work on that.”