ELLIS Iandolo will be a huge asset for Colchester United following his return from injury, as they prepare to welcome players back to match action.

That's the view of U's head coach Matty Etherington, who is delighted the left-sided defender is back in the fold after recovering from ankle surgery.

Iandolo made his first appearance in more than four months when he came on as a second-half substitute in Colchester's 2-1 defeat at Wrexham, last weekend.

The 26-year-old replaced Will Greenidge on the hour mark at the Racecourse Ground and is now pushing to start for the U's in their clash with Salford City, on Friday night.

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Etherington said: “It's a huge positive to have Ellis back, just the balance he gave us on the left-hand side.

“He’s got a full week’s training ahead of him, going into Salford on Friday.

“I’m really excited to see what he can bring us.

“He’s been in full training now for a few weeks and he’s definitely one that will improve us, as a team if you look at his pedigree and he’s someone that we need on that left-hand side, as well.

“He’ll be a real welcome addition.

Gazette:

“Ellis got an injury really early in the season.

“He’s technically a very good footballer and we can see that in training.

“He gives us a balance on the left-hand side that we desperately need.

“He gives a different option completely, with Al-Amin (Kazeem) not too far away.

"Ellis is a real steady individual, a good influence on the group and has been there and done it as well and many big games under his belt.

"He'll be a huge asset and it's about making sure we use him properly."

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Colchester could also welcome back captain Connor Hall for the Salford game.

Hall has missed the U's last eight matches after undergoing hernia surgery, in November.

“I do think that Connor has been a huge loss for us," said Etherington.

“Connor’s recovery is going OK.

“There’s been a little setback with it where he’s had to go and speak to a surgeon and have an injection.

“But he’ll be back in full training all being well (on Monday) and available for selection against Salford.

Gazette:

“The more we can get players back, the better for everybody, especially with the games coming up and especially defensively, at the minute."

Meanwhile Tom Dallison will be assessed ahead of the Salford game, after missing Colchester's last three league and cup games with a back problem.

Etherington added: "Tom is another one who has had a scan.

"I mentioned it post-match (against Crawley) that I got a phone call at 8.30am on the Saturday morning, a phone call I don't want, that his back had seized up from Friday.

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"We needed to get to the bottom of what the problem is.

"The scan came back relatively clear; there's some degeneration there in terms of a 28-year-old footballer but there's nothing serious.

"So he's on a different form of painkillers now and it seems to be doing the trick.

"We'll look to Salford with Tom or MK Dons, on Boxing Day."