COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal has underlined the significance of his substitutes following Tarique Fosu’s explosive impact against Blackpool on Saturday.

The U’s fought back from behind to secure a 3-2 victory, in the League Two contest at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Sub Fosu played a major role in their success, stepping off the bench and having a hand in their second and third goals.

He helped on Brennan Dickenson’s corner at the near post, allowing Chris Porter to flick home from close range, and then played in man-of-the-match Porter to make it 3-1.

Reading winger Fosu, who is on loan with the U’s until January, also went close himself but was denied by Blackpool keeper Sam Slocombe.

“I’m a manager who believes that subs are really important,” said McGreal.

“They’re not there just to warm the bench – they have to take into account how the game is going and whether they can affect it, when they come on.

“When you think back over the last few games, the subs that have come on have really affected games and that’s great.

“They’re pushing for starts and that’s what we want, because it means we’ve got that competition.

“We know that we’re going to get suspensions and injuries, which we might have picked up (against Blackpool) but we have got that cover on the bench,” McGreal added.

“We couldn’t have asked more from the players who came on.”

Last weekend’s victory was Colchester’s third of the season at the Community Stadium.

The U’s are fifth in the table and their next match is at Barnet on Saturday.