Joe Dunne believes December will be a pivotal month for Colchester United.

And the U’s boss has set his sights on them finishing an eventful 2013 on a high by embarking on a winning run.

Colchester, who are four points above the relegation zone in League One, are without a game this weekend as they are out of the FA Cup.

Their next game is against bottom-of-the-table Notts County at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, on December 14.

And with key games against Oldham Athletic, Stevenage and Crewe Alexandra to follow before the new year, Dunne feels the U’s must target four wins out of four.

Dunne said: “We’ll go into December now looking for maximum points in every game and I think it’s possible, if we create the chances we have been.

“I think this is a big month for us, because we’re playing a lot of the teams around us and we have to have the right mindset and be up for it.

“I think we’re in a position where we feel we can win games.

“We were five points ahead of Tranmere before the game and now we’re only two and I’ve told the players that.

“We don’t want to keep looking over our shoulders and that would be really infuriating, especially when we went through it last year.”

Ben Tozer has been training with his new Colchester team-mates this week, following his loan move from League Two side Northampton Town.

Fellow loan signing Blair Turgott is training with West Ham United and will link up with the U’s next week.

Dunne said: “Ben has fitted in really well with the rest of the group and he gives us another dimension.

“He will add a bit of steel to either our defence or midfield and he strengthens our squad.

“It was key that he’s an experienced player and I didn’t want to bring in another young one because you’re gambling again then and I don’t want to do that.

“Blair gives us a bit of pace and a bit of creativity down the wing and I’m glad to add two more options to the group.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.