CAMERON McGeehan insists Colchester United’s players must give everything they have in their remaining ten games to secure the club’s Football League status.

And the U’s midfielder believes they are capable of embarking on a winning run, just when they need it most.

Colchester make the trip to play League Two leaders Mansfield Town on Saturday lunchtime looking for points to boost their survival bid.

The U’s currently lie outside of the relegation places on goal difference and McGeehan admits the time is now for them to meet the challenge head on.

READ MORE: Dave Huzzey on Colchester's Essex Senior Cup Final defeat

The 28-year-old said: “We’ve got no more time to wait, we’ve got to come out with everything we’ve got.

“We’ve got young, powerful players and the manager has talked about that a lot and has been hammering that point home and that’s what we’ll bring, the last ten games.

“All of the teams in this league are quite similar and we know what we’re up against.

“We’ve just got to give it everything that we can and just concentrate on ourselves.

“You play against teams and you think ‘we’re better than them’ and they’re at the top and we’re at the bottom so that’s frustrating but I think (it needs) a bit of confidence and belief.

Gazette:

“It’s just those little inches and if we can get that win and get going, the last ten games are coming thick and fast and hopefully we can pick up form and win some games, in short succession.

“We need to just keep climbing the table, keep picking up points.

“There are some big games coming up so hopefully, we’ll have some big wins and surprise a few.

“Since the new managers came in, they’ve made us a lot more solid and I think we’ve been in control of a lot of games.

READ MORE: Match report as U's lose BBC Essex Senior Cup Final

“They’ve been great – it’s a tough time for players down the bottom of the league but they’re always positive and always have good energy and you can see that on the pitch.

“It’s just that little bit extra to go and win but I feel like it’s coming and I think we can put a run together and finish strong.

“I feel like we’ve got more than enough in the group but you’ve got to go and make it happen.”

McGeehan bagged his eighth goal of the season for Colchester with a second-half equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Walsall, last weekend.

Gazette:

“My game is to try and get in there and use my desire to get into the box,” said the former Luton and Barnsley midfielder.

“I’ll just keep doing that and see what happens.

“I’m always excited to see it developing and that’s my chance to get in there and make it happen.

“I practice it all the time – sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t.

“It was a nice feeling to score and get us back in the game.”

READ MORE: season-ticket holder Si Collinson with his views on the U's

Colchester’s game against Walsall last weekend was the first time they had played on the JobServe Community Stadium pitch since its dimensions were reduced, in a bid to help avoid any further postponements.

McGeehan added: “I didn’t notice the pitch changes massively.

“I think it probably helps our style of play and intensity makes the game sharper.

“I always felt it was quite a big pitch and it’s good that we’re going to have games on now.

“It’s good that we’ve got a lot of home games.

“Hopefully we can turn it into a bit of fortress and kick on for the last few games.”