DANNY Cowley says he is happy with Colchester United’s business in this month’s transfer window so far.

The U’s have this week added Alistair Smith and Riley Harbottle to their ranks on loan, joining Jayden Richardson and Conor Wilkinson in signing for the club in January.

Colchester are set to further bolster their squad ahead of next Thursday’s deadline and head coach Cowley is pleased with the way things are shaping up, as they bid to move away form the League Two relegation zone.

Cowley said: “To be able to bring Riley and Alistair in this week I think has been huge for us, as a club.

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“For us, the aim of this window was to improve the starting XI and whenever I sign players, it’s only for significant gain and to make us better and that they can help the team; I never just make change for change sake.

“These are always the aims of our recruitment and I think if you recruit like that, then the starting XI just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

“I watched us train today and I saw a team that’s coming together.

"I think we've made some sensible signings in this window, players who have played the level and done well at the level.

"I think that's important for us, in the position that we're in.

"The profile of the player and the age of the player I think is really good - they're all in that 23 to 27 bracket.

"They've had enough age experience and they know the game but they have that quality and athleticism.

"If you find those boys and they love the game and they've been starved of football, you can definitely benefit from them coming in with a real energy and enthusiasm."

Smith and Harbottle are both in line to make their Colchester debut at Morecambe tomorrow.

Gazette:

Midfielder Smith has arrived from League One side Lincoln City, while defender Harbottle has joined from Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian, both on loan until the end of the season.

“We’re delighted to have Alistair Smith with us,” added Cowley.

“He exactly profiles the player we’re looking for with his quality.

“We love his athletic quality; he’s 6ft 4in, moves brilliantly but technically is a really good player as well.

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“Very rarely do you have the opportunity to sign a player who has both qualities – they may have the physical quality but not the technical quality or the technical without the physical quality - but he’s one that had both.

“Riley was outstanding in League Two last year, at Mansfield.

“He’s brilliant in both boxes and a really accomplished footballer as well.

“He’s just the type of centre-half that we like.

"Riley played 35, 36 times for Mansfield last year, scored six goals, did very well at the level, had so many clubs wanting to sign him.

"Mansfield were desperate to sign him, Stevenage tried to sign him and he decided to go to Hibernian, he had League One and League Two offers in the summer."