COLCHESTER United could be boosted by players returning from injury this weekend.

The U's have been without the services of a number of key squad members, over recent weeks.

However, a two-week gap between league games has provided additional recovery time for some of Colchester's players who have been sidelined, of late.

The likes of John Akinde, Kwesi Appiah (pictured below), Cole Skuse and Tom Dallison have all been out but U's boss Matt Bloomfield says they have welcomed players back at Florence Park.

Gazette:

Bloomfield said: “We’ve had a few extra faces on the training ground.

“We’ve had a really strong group, over the last ten days, so we’re really pleased about that.

“We obviously can’t rush everybody; we have to make sure that everybody’s fully fit.

“But we’ve had a really competitive week’s training and we’re really pleased with the group we’ve got.”

Dallison played for Colchester's under-21 side in their Premier League Cup defeat against Southampton's youngsters, last weekend.

The former Crawley Town defender has been sidelined of late due to injury and has not featured since the U's 1-1 draw with high-flying Stevenage, in late October.

Bloomfield said: “Dallo's now got some minutes in his legs, which is really important."

Gazette:

Colchester's visit to Mansfield will be their first competitive match in ten days.

In contrast, the Stags have played twice since the U's last game, including a 2-1 defeat at Everton under-21s in the Papa Johns Trophy last night.

Bloomfield feels the break between fixtures can work both ways for clubs but feels it could prove beneficial for Colchester, as they bid to move away from the League Two relegation zone.

Bloomfield added: “They could be sharp and ready because they’ve played the games or we could be sharp and ready because we’ve had a rest.

“The proof will be on Saturday afternoon – all we can do is prepare the best we possibly can.

“Going ten days without a game is quite alien for us considering the way the games have gone since we’ve been in the building.

“We’ve certainly tried to put as much emphasis on training as we can but also tried to freshen up the boys, because the schedule has been relentless.

“I believe that there is such a thing as mental fatigue and body fatigue as well so you have to keep training fresh.

“You can’t just keep ploughing ahead regardless.

“We’ve tried to be diligent in our work as well as hard working.

“Tommo (Richard Thomas) is an absolute elite coach and I’ve tried to put as much tactical work into the boys as I can as well and we’ve been as well prepared as we possibly can.”