ARMANDO Dobra still has a part to play for Colchester United between now and the end of the season.

That is the view of U's interim head coach Wayne Brown, following the on-loan attacker's recent omission from their first-team squad.

Dobra has not featured in a Colchester senior game since their Papa John's Trophy defeat at Sutton United, on January 4.

And the 20-year-old has not started a U's match in League Two since their 3-1 reverse at Crawley Town, on New Year's Day.

Dobra has been playing for Colchester's under-23s of late and played and scored against his parent club Ipswich Town, last week.

And the Albania under-21 international netted the winner for the U's in their Professional Development League Two win at Watford, on Tuesday.

Dobra is one of six loanees currently in the Colchester squad.

And EFL rules state that clubs can only include a maximum of five loanees, in their 18-man matchday squad.

Colchester brought in Sam Hornby, Myles Kenlock, Owura Edwards, Corie Andrews and Tyreik Wright on loan, in last month's window.

U's interim boss Brown said: “Armando definitely has a part to play.

“We’ve been active in the window, created a squad that’s good enough and big enough to give us a bit of strength in depth and everyone will be needed.

“Games come thick and fast but we’ve been very active in the window.

“We’ve tried to create an environment where there’s competition for places, good strength in depth and we’re going to need all of the players through not just through this month but the remainder of the season."

Dobra has made a total of 17 league and cup appearances for Colchester since joining them on a season-long loan from neighbours Ipswich, last August.

He has made seven league starts in that time and 11 appearances in total in League Two, scoring once.