COLCHESTER United will assess the fitness of duo Kwame Poku and Brendan Wiredu again today after the pair suffered knee injuries.

The U's duo will be monitored ahead of this weekend's trip to play Crawley Town, after they were both withdrawn in the laqtter stages of the Leasing.com Trophy Group A clash against Tottenham Hotspur under-21s, on Tuesday night.

Poku has only recently returned for Colchester after a calf injury.

Colchester head coach John McGreal said: "Kwame (Poku) has been in and around it again but he's had to come off as he was feeling his knee again.

"He'd been nursing that and it was his first game back on Saturday (against Stevenage).

"He looked a little bit sore when he came off and he's got the ice in and around it.

"Brendan (Wiredu) felt his knee so we had to take him off as well."

McGreal made a total of eight changes to his starting line-up for the game against Spurs' youngsters, which finished in a 1-1 draw and a penalty shoot-out which resulted in the visitors triumphing 6-5 on spot-kicks.

Wiredu, Omar Sowunmi, Ryan Clampin, Tom Lapslie, Noah Chilvers, Courtney Senior, Jevani Brown and goalkeeper Ethan Ross were all given the chance to shine and stake a claim for a place in the U's side for the game at Crawley.

"They've had opportunities and they've been playing football," said McGreal.

"Clamps has now had a bit of a rest - he was desperately looking to be available for last weekend (against Stevenage).

"But he's been injured so it's good to get him playing again.

"Noah (Chilvers) also got some good minutes.

"Courtney looked comfortable on the ball when he didn't give it away.

"He would have got his name in lights had he scored in the last minute and he should be scoring.

"They are things he knows he's got to improve on.

"We know what he can do but it's about having that consistency and we need to try and get that with him.

"Boys want opportunities to play and when they get them, they have to execute them.

"That's where we want to go - we want that competitive edge that we've had for the three years that I've been here.

"That's why you need those other boys to be fit, pushing and knocking on your door wanting to play."

Colchester took the lead against Spurs under-21s just before half-time, thanks to Luke Norris's header.

But Tashan Oakley-Boothe equalised for Tottenham under-21s in the second half, to force a draw.

McGreal added: "You want to win, especially when you're ahead with 12 minutes to go.

"That's the painful thing and that's what we've got to instil into the players and the team, to get into those good habits."