Colchester United vs Bradford AFC preview - Colchester's loan interest growing

Posted Friday, September 19, 2014 by PA

Colchester boss Tony Humes is playing a waiting game on loan signings before the visit of Bradford.

He confirmed the club were close to signing striker Rhys Healy from Cardiff before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer quit the Bluebirds.

Freddie Sears is hopeful he will overcome a back problem after sitting out training on Thursday.

Defender Josh Thompson is set to go out on loan after a nightmare spell which has seen him play just 45 minutes since April 2013 after ankle and hamstring problems.

Bradford striker James Hanson is expected to miss out as his side targets a fourth straight league win on the road.

Hanson pulled up with a thigh strain in the warm-up before the midweek win at MK Dons, so Billy Clarke and Aaron Mclean are likely to resume up front.

Skipper Alan Sheehan sits out the second game of his three-match ban following his straight red card in last week's home defeat to Swindon and his replacement, Frenchman Christophe Routis, is hoping to make his home debut.

Fellow defender James Meredith appears to have overcome a chest infection after coming through the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night.