JOHN-Joe O’Toole is fast becoming the forgotten man of Colchester United.

JOHN-Joe O’Toole is fast becoming the forgotten man of Colchester United.

While the U’s have been enjoying a good run of results, over the last couple of months, O’Toole has been restricted to only cameo roles due to suspension and more recently injury.

John Ward’s men are up to 11th in the League One table, and through to the second round of the FA Cup (home to Swindon), on the back of just two defeats in 13 games.

But midfielder O’Toole has not started any of the last 10 games, and is now set to see a specialist to get to the bottom of a niggling groin injury.

“We are trying to get John-Joe back by two different routes,” explained U’s boss Ward yesterday.

“He has been training today, though not with the rest of the team. We’ll see how that goes.

“But he is also going to see a specialist. It’s uncertain which way it will go at the moment. It’s been three weeks now, and we were hoping that it would have just settled down.”

O’Toole’s last start was the 1-1 home draw against Leyton Orient on September 10. Three days later and the ex-Watford man was sent off, for serious foul play, just 18 minutes after coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Brentford.

After serving a three-match ban, he returned for substitute appearances at Rochdale and Sheffield Wednesday, but has not been in the 16-man squad for the last four fixtures, due to a sore groin.

The U’s entertain fourth-placed Mk Dons this Saturday.

Meanwhile, U’s third choice keeper, Carl Pentney, has signed on a month’s loan at Hayes & Yeading, who play in the Blue Square Premier. Hayes & Yeading are ground-sharing with Woking this season.