Take 40-plus goals out of any side and it is bound to make a difference.

So it is perhaps little wonder that Colchester United are showing signs of a team shorn of the firepower provided last season by Brennan Dickenson, Kurtis Guthrie and Chris Porter.

The U’s 1-1 draw with Stevenage at the weekend perhaps served as a poignant reminder of what they are currently lacking, given the outcome of last season’s two encounters between the two teams.

John McGreal’s side completed an impressive double against their Hertfordshire opponents in the 2016-17 campaign, smashing eight goals past them in the process.

Porter and Dickenson both helped themselves to two goals apiece against Stevenage in the 2016-17 campaign, with Guthrie also on target.

There was to be no such excitement this time around, though.

Indeed, Colchester were forced to come from behind to rescue a point in their rather flat opening home league game of the season.

Sadly for the U's, this time around Dickenson and Guthrie watched on the game from the stands due to injury, while Porter has departed for pastures new and is already scoring goals for his new club Crewe Alexandra.

Add to that the attacking impact loanee Tariq Fosu had in the final games of last season and it is clear to see there is a bit of a hole to be filled.

But last season is now in the past and as McGreal has said, there has been a period of rebuilding.

At least Guthrie and Dickenson will return in the coming weeks and months but for now, the U’s must rely on other sources for their goal input.

Mikael Mandron provided it against Stevenage and he will be relieved to get off the mark for his new club, so early in the season.

He is a raw young talent and his performances have so far divided opinion among Colchester fans.

But he took his chance well against Stevenage and has the potential to be a big hit for them this season as does Sammie Szmodics, who netted on the opening day at Accrington Stanley.

It may take time for both of them to hit the heights, given Mandron’s lack of football for Wigan Athletic and Szmodics’ injury problems, last season.

Needless to say, the U’s will need them to step up to the plate in the coming weeks, along with fellow forwards Drey Wright and Denny Johnstone, in order to provide the firepower needed to get some points on the board.

McGreal acknowledged that point in his post-match press conference but the U's boss is happy his side are creating chances.

And as he also remarked after the Stevenage draw, it is not just down to the forwards to score their goals.

Colchester will also need others to help provide them with the ammunition they need and in the last two games, wing-backs Ryan Jackson and Kyel Reid have been impressive performers.

They will require all of their attackers to be in potent form, if they are to reach the heights they seek.