A young Colchester side held Charlton to a 0-0 draw at Sparrows Lane in an Under-21 game on Monday afternoon.

Of most interest to Addicks fans would have been the first appearance of new signing, Roger Johnson.

Johnson played for 62 minutes before being replaced by Terrell Thomas. He was aggressive, niggling away at the referee from the first whistle, and he galvanised his teammates.

Johnson has the attitude that is badly needed right now and Guy Luzon may be tempted to fast track him into the first team. Tuesday’s match against Norwich may come a little too soon for him to be considered though.

Luzon has a major job on his hands if he is to lift the team’s spirits, but it is a job that needs to be done urgently.

Marko Dmitrovic is likely to continue in goal. Stephen Henderson’s shoulder injury has healed but the club are being cautious with him. They want him to play for the rest of the season, without further mishap, when he returns.

A decision will have to be made about whether to risk Chris Solly so soon after the Middlesbrough game. If Luzon errs on the side of caution, Joe Gomez and Lawrie Wilson will be vying to be Solly’s replacement.

Rhoys Wiggins picked up a knock in training on Friday, missed the Boro game on Saturday and is unlikely to be risked. Andre Bikey may come back in as Tal Ben Haim’s partner, at the expense of Oguchi Onyewu.

Luzon lost Milos Veljkovic to a suspected dislocated shoulder at the Riverside, and the Spurs loanee will be out of action for some while.

Johnnie Jackson is likely to start in tandem with Yoni Buyens in the engine room. Johann Gudmudsson and Jordon Cousins will probably retain the wide midfield berths, though Frederic Bulot is available again.

Simon Church and Tony Watt started up front on Saturday, with Igor Vetokele coming off the bench to replace Church just before the hour mark.

Watt’s start was his first since October and he appeared to pick up a knock in the second half. He must be a doubt for this game. Church’s early withdrawal from the match was hardly a glowing endorsement from the head coach.

Vetokele is likely to be returned to the starting line-up and, if fit, Callum Harriott may be his partner. Karlan Ahearne-Grant played in the Under-21 game on Monday, so is unlikely to be involved.

Luzon’s team could look something like this:

Dmitrovic; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Fox; Gudmundsson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Harriott, Vetokele.

Subs: Etheridge, Gomez, Onyewu, Wilson, Lepoint, Muldoon, Bulot.

The referee will be Northamptonshire’s Andy Woolmer.

Norwich are in good form and beat Blackpool 4-0 at Carrow Road on Saturday, with Gary Hooper notching a hat-trick. The Canaries will be hot favourites to take all three points back to Norfolk.