John McGreal believes he has two of the best full-backs in League Two in Ryan Jackson and Kane Vincent-Young.

And the U’s head coach admits it will be a tough decision if he has to choose between them when picking his starting line-up for their game against Crawley Town, this weekend.

Jackson, signed from Gillingham on a free transfer earlier this summer, has just returned from a hip injury and impressed as a second-half substitute at Cambridge United.

But Vincent-Young has been in excellent form of late, with the former U’s academy player looking to build on his first-ever professional goal against Forest Green Rovers last month.

McGreal said: “The full-back position will be a tough decision on Saturday.

“In Ryan Jackson and Kane Vincent-Young, I think we have two of the best full-backs in this division at our football club.

“Kane has been doing really well and I thought Ryan was outstanding when he came on against Cambridge.

“He got up and down the line and got crosses into the box.

“He’s been a good player for us but we just need to keep him fit.”

Colchester will make a late decision on attacker Kyel Reid, who was substituted in their 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United last weekend because of a hip problem.

“It’s a daily assessment with Kyel like the two previous games where he hasn’t trained but made the game but he wants to play,” said McGreal.

Colchester will definitely be without striker Tariq Issa for the game against bogey side Crawley, who they have never beaten in nine league and cup matches.

The youngster suffered an abductor injury playing for the U’s under-23 side in their friendly defeat at Barnet, on Tuesday.

McGreal added: “Tariq is out now for a few weeks as well.

“It was absolutely innocuous - it was a wet pitch and when he’s tried to take off, he’s injured his abductor.”

Along with Issa, Craig Slater, Doug Loft, Courtney Senior, Luke Prosser, Brennan Dickenson and Kurtis Guthrie are also sidelined for the Crawley clash.