Colchester United must not get too downbeat about their win-less start to the new season, according to boss Tony Humes.

The U’s have failed to win any of their opening five league and cup matches and lie second from bottom, in the early League One table.

Colchester’s players were left dejected in the immediate aftermath of their 4-0 thrashing at Fleetwood Town, last Saturday.

But as he prepares his players for this weekend’s home game against Scunthorpe United, boss Humes wants his players to stay positive.

Humes said: “There’s a long way to go and you can’t get too down about it.

“As soon as that happens, you’re throwing in the towel and we saw that last season and over the last few seasons.

“We’re not about that but we can’t let it happen too often, as that’s where we’ll end up again.

“The players have got to work and get ready for the Scunthorpe game and it’s massively important that we get three points.

“There’s not much to choose between the teams in the division.

“The more success you get, the more people stick together and believe in what’s trying to be done.

“The more that happens the more confidence there will be and we will start getting victories.

“I think we’ve learnt from last season and we continue to do that – you never stop learning.

“There are incidents in games where it makes it easy to make that accusation that we’re not and those people who are saying it (about the Fleetwood performance) are probably right.

“The good thing is that there are 42 games to go; however, that (kind of performance and result) can’t continue.”

Meanwhile, Humes said having George Elokobi available is a huge boost.

The experienced defender made his first U’s appearance since returning to the club at Fleetwood, after coming on as a second-half substitute at Highbury Stadium.

“It was great to have George Elokobi back and he epitomizes what we’re talking about,” said Humes.

“He put himself about and made things difficult for his opponents and that’s what we need.

“George is a huge player for us; we had that last season when Kaspars Gorkss and Bongani Khumalo came in.

“He’s got to be the player who comes in and helps the younger players.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.