David Greene is ready to play through the pain barrier to make sure Colchester United get their new millennium Second Division programme off to a winning start.

The battling former Republic of Ireland Under-21 central defender will definitely play in Monday afternoon's crunch encounter at Blackpool - despite the fact he is still suffering from a broken bone in his right arm.

His delighted U's boss Steve Whitton said today: "The injury has been giving Greeney pain since it happened on Christmas Eve, but he is determined to play at Blackpool.

"He saw a specialist yesterday who diagnosed the injury as a hairline fracture and gave him the all-clear to play.

"Greeney's spirit is typical of the spirit that is currently running through the camp, but we are fixing him up with a lightweight leather splint support just to give him a little more confidence."

There was even more good news for Whitton today after his other injury doubts, Gavin Johnson, Jason Dozzell, Joe Dunne, Simon Brown and Lomana Tresor Lua Lua - who would have all been struggling to play in Wednesday's frozen-off game against Wycombe Wanderers - all indicated they are in the running to play at Bloomfield Road.

Whitton said: "If everyone is available I will be able to field my strongest team - skipper Richard Wilkins excepted - for the first time since I was appointed as manager back in August.

"The squad is beginning to have a really strong look about it and I mean to carry on the New Year as I want to start it - with a win at Blackpool.

"Victory would open up an eight-point gap between us and it would mean they and Chesterfield, in bottom place, would have a very difficult job to catch us.

"Our destiny is entirely up to us. Win at Blackpool and we can look forward to next Saturday's home game with top-of-the-table Bristol Rovers knowing we can more than match the best after our display there a couple of weeks ago."

The U's boss would like to wish U's fans and This Is Essex readers everywhere a very happy New Year.

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