Team news

U's unsure on Okuonghae Colchester will assess Magnus Okuonghae ahead of their home clash against high-flying Sheffield Wednesday.

The influential defender missed Easter Monday's 4-1 hammering at lowly Bury with a knock sustained in the 1-1 draw against Hartlepool on Good Friday.

Midfielder Martin Rowlands, dogged by injury problems since his arrival at the club in early February, picked up a hamstring strain against Pools and looks set to miss the rest of the season.

Having only penned a short-term deal until the end of the campaign, Rowlands' stay at the Essex club looks to have come to a premature end.

Manager John Ward will be pondering changes against the Owls after his side's horror show last time out, with the likes of Steven Gillespie, Ian Henderson, Ashley Vincent, Gavin Massey and John White all pushing for recalls.

The U's are expecting their biggest home attendance of the season for the encounter at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, with as many as 3,000 Wednesday fans set to travel down.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones is hoping defender Lewis Buxton can prove his fitness in time.

Buxton was replaced at half-time during Monday's home win over Oldham as a precaution due to a slight hamstring problem, but the right-back resumed full training on Thursday and could return to the side.

But Jones is not as optimistic about fellow defender Reda Johnson, who missed out on Monday after sustaining a thigh injury in Friday's win at Huddersfield.

Julian Bennett is expected to continue in Johnson's likely absence, while Mark Beevers will drop to the bench should Buxton return.

Skipper Rob Jones is available following suspension but was left out of the side against Oldham as boss Jones kept faith with Miguel Llera and Danny Batth in central defence.

Colchester vs Sheff Wed

Last modified 17:27 14/04/12

Defeat hurts Owls Sheffield Wednesday lost ground in the race for automatic promotion when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Colchester.

Colchester took a third-minute lead when Ian Henderson poked a low shot past Owls goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from close range, after Steven Gillespie had pounced on Michail Antonio's error in the box and picked him out.

Wednesday were largely restricted to long-range efforts in the first half but Nile Ranger squandered a gilt-edged chance after 19 minutes when he sliced well wide with the goal at his mercy, after Antonio had fired across goal.

But Wednesday got back on level terms seven minutes after half-time through Miguel Angel Llera, who converted from close range after Colchester had failed to adequately deal with Chris Lines' free-kick from near the corner flag.

Madine headed over from Lines' free-kick soon after while Gillespie forced Bywater to save, as both sides went for a winner.