Leyton Orient’s interim head coach Ross Embleton will be without Myles Judd for the visit of Colchester after he received a red card in the 3-2 win at Cambridge.

The right-back picked up two yellow cards on Saturday and will serve a one-game suspension.

Joe Widdowson could return and Conor Wilkinson (hip) is hopeful of being fit, but the O’s are missing Sam Ling (hernia), Louis Dennis (knee), Jobi McAnuff (groin) and Brendon Shabani (knee) for the Boxing Day clash.

Goalkeeper Dean Brill, the current second choice, also suffered a hamstring injury in training last week and will be absent, with young stopper Arthur Janata likely to be named on the bench as deputy to Sam Sargeant.

Colchester will check on the fitness of captain Luke Prosser after he limped off towards the end of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Carlisle.

He felt some pain in his knee but was replaced straight away and boss John McGreal will hope to be able to select him at Orient.

The U’s could welcome Brandon Comley back after he was rested against the Cumbrians, but this fixture may come too soon for Dean Gerken (back) and Luke Norris (ankle) while Paris Cowan-Hall has only just returned to training after an Achilles problem.

McGreal’s side are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two.