Colchester United head coach John McGreal says his side must use the timing of tonight’s game at Cheltenham Town to their advantage as they bid to register an elusive League Two win.

McGreal believes it is a good thing that the U’s have a game so soon after the disappointment of losing at Yeovil Town, where they conceded two late goals to crash to a 2-1 defeat.

Colchester will head to Whaddon Road on the back of a ten-match winless run in the league and a run of three straight defeats but McGreal says they must respond.

McGreal said: “We have to regroup again quickly as we go again.

“We have to dig even deeper and work that little bit harder.

“We’re professionals and we have to go again – that’s the nature of the sport that we’re in.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to go again rather than sit and stew for a week.”

Colchester have suffered a succession of setbacks over recent weeks but McGreal admits such disappointments are not exclusive to this season.

“Because of the current predicament that we’re in, it’s tough to take,” he said.

“It’s things that have happened not only this season, it’s been a common thing that we’ve got to try and eradicate at this football club.

“We’re trying as hard as we can to do that and I know Tony (Humes), Kevin (Keen) and Joe (Dunne) beforehand tried really hard to do it, too.

“You have to just keep working hard – you get told that as a player and for a manager, it’s exactly the same.”

Colchester have added Owen Garvan to their squad for tonight's game.

The former Ipswich Town midfielder has not featured for the U's this season in League Two following a leg injury in a pre-season friendly at Southend United but is available again.

Colchester will check on the fitness of both Tom Lapslie and Denny Johnstone, ahead of the Cheltenham clash.

The duo were both substituted in the final stages of the Yeovil defeat and their fitness will be checked, prior to tonight’s game.

McGreal said: “We had to take (Tom) Lapslie off of late and Denny (Johnstone) looked a little bit fatigued.

“I didn’t want to continue with Denny, just in case he pulled something which would really have left us with bare bones.

“We’ll assess those boys as well and see what we’ve got on Tuesday.

“We’re taking the hits, not only with the injuries but also with the results.

“But there’s only us that can get ourselves out of it.

“We can’t do anything until January if we want to try and strengthen it.

“We’ve got what we’ve got and hopefully, another one or two coming back if we can.”