John McGreal is confident that Colchester United have got everything they could out of their pre-season.

And the U’s head coach is pleased about that as he knows they are going to need it in a busy start to their League Two campaign.

McGreal will take his side to Notts County on Saturday for a League Two curtain raiser and he is under no illusion about how tough a start it will be.

The Magpies have invested heavily in their squad this summer, but McGreal knows his players are ready for the test after a productive pre-season when new faces have bedded in well alongside seasoned U's campaigners and some of the club's up and coming youngsters.

“You get the same buzz about the start of a season whether you are a player or a manager," said McGreal.

“There’s different scrutiny on you as a manager compared to when you play, but as a player, you do appreciate it and you know you’ll be judged on that first Saturday.

“That’s the same for players up and down the country so it’s very exciting.

“We’re excited about our opening game, but we know it will be tough as Notts County are among the favourites to be promoted if not win the league.

“But it’s nice to test ourselves and it will be a good game for us.

“You need the maximum time to get ready for that and if you have the time, you have to maximise it.

“We haven’t cut any corners and we feel we have had a good pre-season, but the proof will be in the pudding.

“The first two or three months are very intense and we know that.

“We’ll be playing about 18 games in those first three months and there will have to be a lot of recovery and that’s where you do have to maximise your pre-season.

“All the players have to be ready if they are called upon."

With that intense spell ahead of them, McGreal is delighted to be heading into the season with a clean bill of health for his players.

He said striker Luke Norris had been nursing a tweaked groin muscle this week, but had come through training sessions well and would be ready for selection at Notts County

“Everyone is fit," added the U's boss.

“(Luke) Norris has got through his training sessions this week after just tweaking his groin a little bit so he’s available to be selected.

“To be injury-free is great, but I don’t want to speak too soon as you know what it’s like here.

“We can lose players in a heartbeat, but pre-season has been good on the injury front.

“Luke has come back from his shoulder operation and has had that little niggle in his groin but apart from that, we haven’t really had much.

“Whether that’s us being fortunate or whether we’re learning, hopefully it’s something that can continue and we’ll keep working with the players."

Having a fit squad is creating strong competition for places within his first team, but that is something McGreal welcomes and he is also pleased to have younger members of his squad pressing for spots.

He said: “Competition for places is good and you can see that in training.

“The dynamic of the group is great.

“The experience we have is strong and we also have the younger boys coming through pushing for places.

“We passionately believe in the youth coming through and they have done particularly well.

“It will be tough for them to get in and around it because we have made some good signings but they have had the exposure and are building their experience.

“They know what is expected of them being in and around the first team.

“I think competition for places now is possibly as fierce as it has been in my time here.

“We feel we’ve invested wisely in the team."