Colchester United head coach John McGreal admits he will have to utilise his sizeable squad in the coming weeks.

The U’s are preparing for a challenging run of fixtures, with six more games coming up before the end of February alone.

After tomorrow’s match at home to Barnet, Colchester host Crawley Town on Tuesday and they also have upcoming dates with Accrington Stanley, Wycombe Wanderers, Hartlepool United and Grimsby Town.

McGreal knows than in order to maintain a promotion push, he will have to make full use of the resources available to him.

“A week is a long time in football and we now have extra bodies on board, after bringing players in during the window,” said the former defender.

“(Chairman) Robbie (Cowling) and his team have done a great job to get them in during the window and it really does help.

“It’s a big squad but then we’ve still got a lot of injuries.

“Sooner or later we are going to have to move things around, because we’ve got this run of games coming up.

“We’ll have to throw people in, fill gaps and pull people out.

“That’s why we need bodies until the end of the season and it’s lovely that we’ve got cover.

“I don’t want to moan about it, but, given the problems we’ve had with key players, it’s a credit to the group of players that they’ve got us into this position.

“The boys that have come in have done a great job and it’s very much a collective thing, at the moment.

“The boys are all pushing and pulling each other in the same direction but we’ll have to rest players at some point, because we’ve still got lots of games left.

“The next three weeks are key, because we’ve got six games, and there’s going to have to be a lot of rest and recovery.

“As a manager, it really makes you have to think on your feet.

“Steve and I speak to each other more than we speak to our wives! It’s constant and if it’s not Steve on the phone it’s (physiotherapist) Tony (Flynn).”

Brennan Dickenson could come back into contention tomorrow, having been sidelined with a groin injury last week.

He trained yesterday and, assuming he comes through today’s session unscathed, the wide man could feature against the Bees.

However, he faces stiff competition from Matt Briggs, who impressed in last week’s draw at Blackpool.

McGreal will also be hoping for another big contribution from Craig Slater, who is soldiering on despite nursing a groin injury.

“Craig’s a tough boy,” said the U’s boss.

“He wants to play and he’s in a rich vein for form.

“We have to manage his injury and he knows that.

“But we’re in a good place at the moment and everyone wants to play.” Colchester will be without Sean Murray, who starts a three-match ban.