Colchester United head coach John McGreal is hoping to keep an unchanged starting line-up for the fourth successive match when they travel to play Chesterfield tomorrow.

But the U’s boss admits he could be forced to make changes for their League Two clash, at the Proact Stadium.

Colchester are likely to today make a decision on whether left-sided duo Kane Vincent-Young and Kyel Reid will be fit to face the Spireites, while centre-back Ryan Inniss is also being continually assessed following his shoulder injury.

The U’s squad was split into two different groups yesterday, with one taking part in a heavy session and the other participating in active recovery, as their punishing run of games continues.

McGreal said: “It would be great if we could keep an unchanged line-up but we have got one or two knocks, at the minute.

“We’ve also got the two games in three days to think about, so there’s a lot of food for thought at this moment in time about players recovering and also keeping it fresh.

“I know a lot of managers try and change things and keep things fresh but one good thing is that we’re a young squad who do tend to want to keep playing with the position that we’re in.

“But we also have to try and protect these boys as well because we have had a ton of injuries during the 18 months that we’ve been here and even the years before.

“The starting XI have been terrific but it’s been a group thing and I’ve said that from day one.

“The boys who haven’t been getting the minutes have been vitally important, from the team camaraderie to the information they feed into each other – they’re all part of it and we try and make them part of it.”

Inniss has missed Colchester's last three matches with the shoulder injury he sustained in their 3-1 win over Exeter City, earlier this month.

The Crystal Palace loanee could be fit to return this weekend but boss McGreal admits it is unlikely.

He said: “Ryan’s in my thinking for Saturday but I don’t think he’ll be available.

“It’s one where we’ll continually assess because of how important he is."

Doug Loft is back in training after recovering from the shoulder injury he sustained against Lincoln City and is pushing to get back into contention for the squad.

Striker Kurtis Guthrie is likely to be on the bench again, after making his first league appearance since September on Boxing Day, after coming on as a late substitute against Crawley Town.

"We're trying to get Kurtis into games," said McGreal.

"We initially tried to get him into an under-23 game but it was cancelled, so we've just got a load of first-team training into him and a load of running afterwards.

"We were close to bringing him on against Port Vale but for the sake of five minutes, I thought I would leave it as I was always going to use him at Crawley.

"He's now up to speed and we know the injury is safe and secure - it's now about getting the game time and doing the extra training, to get him up to speed."

Colchester face a Chesterfield side who lie second from bottom in the League Two table and have lost their last three games – but McGreal will not be taking them lightly.

“I’m sure Chesterfield will turn things around as they have some good players there,” said McGreal.

“We’ve got to be spot on for our game but this division springs up different results week in, week out.

“We have to show Chesterfield respect but also do what we can to get the win.”

Colchester are aiming to record a third away win on the spin tomorrow and a fifth victory in their last eight league games, on their travels.

It is a far cry from their early-season form on the road, where they lost all four of their opening matches.

McGreal added: “The loans have really helped the away form.

“Earlier in the season, we were really, really young whereas now, we’re young.

"We also had a ton of injuries and the loans came in and gave us the extra competition and also stayed in the starting XI, when they got the opportunity.”