Colchester United manager Tony Humes says he will need to manage his squad wisely in the crucial final weeks of the season.

The U's boss has not been afraid to rest key players over recent weeks, something that has helped the club embark on a four-match unbeaten run.

Key midfielder Alex Gilbey was rested for the 3-1 win over Barnsley, on Easter Monday.

And the likes of Gavin Massey and Chris Porter have also been given a breather, over recent weeks.

Humes said: “It’s about managing your players at the right times, in the last stretch that we’re going into.

“There’ll be more players who might need to come in and out, if we think that’s the best way forward.

“They’re a squad and a team and they’re showing that, at this moment in time.

“Players will slot in and with six games to go, we might need that more between now and the end of the season.

“We have to do things at the right time, manage the players and the situations."

Teenager Dion Sembie-Ferris has been an unused substitute for Colchester in their last two games.

He had started their two matches prior to that against Gillingham and Yeovil Town, which resulted in four points from six for the U's.

Sembie-Ferris only made his senior debut in January and boss Humes says they need to be wary of him doing too much, too soon.

He added: “Dion is a young player - we have to do it bit by bit and introduce him when we feel it’s right.

“He found it tough in the two games we played but they were two games we got a win and a draw from.

“Dion can look back on those two games and feel that he’s played his part in helping to pick up points for the club.

“Hopefully he’s gained a lot from it - he needs to get his confidence up so we need to be careful with when we play him but Dion has done well."

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