Tom McCready not ready for Grecians

Exeter's Tom McCready has rejoined Lee Holmes on the casualty list ahead of the Sky Bet League Two home meeting with Colchester.

McCready broke down in training last week just about as he was to return from the groin injury which has ruled him out since August.

Holmes (ankle) is Exeter's only other absentee as Ethan Ampadu and Joel Grant are fit again after knocks.

But boss Paul Tisdale could name an unchanged side as an eight-game unbeaten run has taken the Grecians from a relegation battle to the fringe of the play-off race.

Colchester, who are unbeaten in nine matches, will check on the fitness of forward Kurtis Guthrie and midfielder Craig Slater, who both picked up groin problems in the draw at Newport.

Defender Jermaine Grandison, signed as a free agent following a trial, has a hip problem, so will have to wait for his debut.

Full-back Matt Briggs, who had hip surgery in August, scored in the Under-23s Premier League Cup win over Manchester City on Thursday night, while teenage striker Eli Phipps has joined the Essex club from Cardiff.

Midfielder Doug Loft is closing in on a return from his Achilles tendon problem, while forward Sammie Szmodics (ankle), defender Lewis Kinsella (ankle) and club captain Luke Prosser (knee) all continue their recoveries.