Samir Carruthers will be absent again when Cambridge host Mansfield on New Year’s Day.

Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood has revealed that midfielder Carruthers missed the 1-0 win over Morecambe on Sunday due to a “personal situation” and remains unavailable.

Harry Darling may have to fill in at full-back again with Kyle Knoyle (dislocated shoulder) and Leon Davies (broken nose) both sidelined, although the U’s could be boosted by the return of midfielder Luke Hannant after illness.

Former Chesterfield goalkeeper Callum Burton made his League Two debut for the club against Morecambe and seems set for an extended run in the side.

Mansfield could be without Ryan Sweeney after the Stags defender twisted an ankle at Bradford on Sunday.

Sweeney was forced off during the first half of that 2-0 defeat and Krystian Pearce is on stand by to deputise in central defence.

Jacob Mellis and Nicky Maynard are likely options should new boss Graham Coughlan – who recalled goalkeeper Conrad Logan and midfielder Otis Khan at Bradford – decide to rotate again at the end of a demanding holiday programme.

Mansfield have yet to win since Coughlan arrived from Bristol Rovers earlier this month, drawing two and losing one of his three games in charge.