John McGreal expects Colchester United’s youngsters to help provide the platform for their League Two challenge next season.

The newly-appointed U’s first-team coach knows more than anyone about the talented youngsters pushing for opportunities at senior level, having coached the club’s under-21 side.

The likes of Macauley Bonne, Frankie Kent and Tom Lapslie were all regular appearance-makers for Colchester, in the final months of this season.

And with a fit-again Sammie Szmodics ready to return to battle for a starting players and other academy players such as Femi Akinwande, Ben Wyatt and Kane Vincent-Young eying opportunities, boss McGreal is anticipating them to provide the base for their forthcoming campaign.

He said: “A few of the lads who have played for the under-21s have made it into the first team towards the back end of this season and have done particularly well.

“The boys like Lapslie, Kent, Bonne, Vincent-Young and Szmodics who are in there and around at the moment are terrific young players and a good core to actually start from.”

The League Two line-up for next season has been completed, following AFC Wimbledon’s victory in yesterday’s League Two play-off final at Wembley.

McGreal is currently preparing for the new season, which will be Colchester’s first in the fourth tier since 1998.

Football in League Two has a reputation for being direct and physical but the U’s boss believes there are also some good footballing sides in the division.

“I’ll be watching a lot of tapes over the next few weeks, until we get back into the pre-season,” said McGreal.

“A lot of football gets played in League Two.

“I’ve got a lot of contacts who tell me it’s not all long ball.

“You look at the top teams in the division and they play a lot of football.

“I think we’re well equipped for it and will give it a good go.”