HEAD coach John McGreal believes the progress of young skipper Tom Lapslie has been an "unbelievable highlight" for Colchester United.

The U's boss was bitterly disappointed with his side's 3-0 defeat at Luton Town, on Saturday.

It continued the club's win-less start to the new League Two season, during which time they have also bowed out of the Carabao Cup.

However, McGreal says it is far from doom and gloom and points to the major positive of Lapslie.

“He’s one of our own, first and foremost," said the U's boss.

“Tom does the ins and outs of what a lot of players don’t want to do.

“It might not be flashy but from my point of view, as a centre-half, I’d love someone like him in front of me.

“Every successful teams needs someone like Tom, from the Premier League down.

“He loves being captain and he’s taken the responsibility in his stride.

"That has to be an unbelievable highlight.

“In addition to Tom, we've also got the likes of (young trio) Frankie Kent, Cameron James and Sammie Szmodics.

“We’ve got some great players that we’re bringing through, that we’ve spent a lot of time and investment in, and we don’t sing enough of these boys’ praises.

"We should be signing these boys’ names from the rooftops.

“They’ve been terrific and they’ll be great for us again this year, too."

McGreal also had some encouraging news in terms of Brennan Dickenson's comeback from a serious knee injury, which has kept him sidelined since April.

Last season's player-of-the-year suffered cruciate damage in training.

He is one of five players to have been offered a new contract by the club, along with Lapslie, Kent, Kurtis Guthrie and Drey Wright.

And although Dickenson still faces more weeks on the sidelines, McGreal said: "He’s doing unbelievably well, in terms of his comeback.

“I’m hoping he, along with the others, will sign their contracts."

Colchester have no midweek game and their next League Two appointment is at home to Forest Green Rovers, on Saturday.