Colchester v Walsall preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Colchester and Walsall at Weston Homes Stadium.

Colchester manager John Ward will assess his squad in training towards the end of the week before deciding whether to make changes for the home tie. The Us saw a run of three successive draws ended by last weekend's comprehensive 3-0 defeat away to high-flying Sheffield United. It was a disappointing display from Colchester, and Ward told his club's official website: "We will aim for a better performance this Saturday. "I think about how we might change the side each week and I saw the reserves (win 2-0 at Southend on Tuesday) and they did very well. "But I want to see the boys in training on Thursday and Friday and then decide whether to make those changes or whether to stay with it." Ward has no new injury or suspension problems but remains without midfielder John-Joe O'Toole as he serves the second game of his three-match ban, as well as long-term absentees Ashley Vincent (knee) and Bradley Hamilton (fractured cheekbone). Jon Macken returns to contention for Walsall's trip. The 34-year-old striker has missed the Saddlers' last two games with a hamstring injury but trained this week and is likely to start at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Manager Dean Smith is set to ring the changes having been less than impressed with last weekend's performance in the 2-2 draw at home to Scunthorpe. Smith brought in five new faces for the lacklustre display and it remains to be seen how he will line up this time around. He must also decide whether to keep faith with the 4-5-1 system he adopted from the start against the Iron, prior to reverting back to 4-4-2. Claude Gnakpa (hamstring) remains the only player missing, though the midfielder could return against Carlisle next week.