Stefano Russo says his main priority is to get Colchester United’s players as fit as possible in readiness for the big kick-off.

The U’s sports science and fitness coach will look after the first team in the coming weeks, after stepping up from his role with the academy.

The 28-year-old has taken charge for the foreseeable future in place of David Carolan, who left Colchester to take up a role at Birmingham City.

Russo told the Daily Gazette: “It’s a great opportunity for me and I’ll be making sure that I do the best I can.

“At the moment, it’s the case of filling the position and taking things day by day.

“I’m still committed to my role as head of sports science for the Academy but it’s a really important time for all of the players.

“We must make sure that we can get pre-season underway in the right way.

“The testing we do with the players will help us to know the shape and condition that they’re in.

“They’ll have done their programmes accordingly and the main thing is that the players are in top form for the Blackpool game.

“I worked really closely with David Carolan over the last season and built a good working relationship with him.

“We liased in terms of getting to know the players and I was lucky to work alongside him.

“One of the good things is that I’ve worked with the academy players over the last year or so and a lot of them have moved up to the first team.

“I know their strengths and weaknesses, so that will be something that helps me.”

Russo has been at Colchester since Tony Humes appointed him as head of sports science for the academy, last summer.

“I got into sports science as soon as I finished school,” added Russo, who has a diploma in Sports Science.

“I was unsuccessful in my dream of being a footballer.

“But ever since I was 16, I’ve always wanted to be a fitness coach for a football club first team.

“I got work experience at West Ham and Southend United while I was at the University of East London and then got my first break at Southend.

“I was at Southend for four years - I learnt a lot there and worked under some great sports scientists.

“But it was a great opportunity for me when Tony came in and offered me the position at Colchester and something I couldn’t turn down.

“There’s a great philosophy at Colchester and it’s like working within one big family.”