Colchester United will be sweating on a late fitness test for midfielder Tim Lapslie, ahead of tomorrow’s home test against Carlisle United.

Lapslie was replaced early in the second half of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Macclesfield, due to an ongoing sore hamstring.

Fellow midfielders Harry Pell (hamstring) and Brandon Comley (knee) are again definite non-starters, so Diaz Wright is on standby to partner Ben Stevenson in the centre of the park, if Lapslie misses out.

By contrast, manager John McGreal has refreshing options in both defence and attack, with centre-half Tom Eastman possibly returning to the starting line-up in a three-man back-line.

Up top, Frank Nouble is again set to play as the centre forward, with attacking alternatives Mikael Mandron, Luke Norris and Callum Roberts all poised for the bench.

Carlisle will be without leading scorer Jamie Devitt, who serves the second of a three-match suspension for his recent red card against Crewe.

Likely squads

COLCHESTER: Gilmartin, Eastman, Prosser, Kent, Jackson, Stevenson, Lapslie, Vincent-Young, Senior, Szmodics, Nouble, Eisa, Wright, Mandron, Norris, Roberts, Dickenson, Dunne & Barnes.

CARLISLE: Collin, Miller, Gerrard, Grant, Grainger, Thomas, Slater, Etuhu, O’Hare, Scougall, Hope, McCarron, Cullen, Liddell, Kennedy, Jones, Glendon, Simpson, Parkes & Gray.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland)