ZACH Mitchell has missed out on being part of Colchester United’s matchday squad over recent games because of the number of loanees the club currently have.

That’s the view of U’s boss Danny Cowley, after the on-loan Charlton Athletic defender was omitted from their final 18 for the last four games.

Mitchell has made 28 league and cup appearances for Colchester since joining them on a season-long loan from the Addicks last summer and is one of the club’s leading appearance makers, in the current campaign.

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But the 19-year-old centre-back has found himself out of the reckoning of late, having not been involved since the 1-1 draw with Bradford City, on January 13.

Fellow loanees Alistair Smith, Riley Harbottle, Jayden Richardson, Owen Goodman and Harry Anderson have been preferred ahead of Mitchell, with the U’s only permitted to include five registered loan players, in their matchday squad.

Colchester head coach Cowley said: “We can only have five loanees in our matchday squad so unfortunately, Zach has just missed out.

“It’s only been that that’s been the reason that he’s missed out.

Gazette:

“What a great kid; he’s going to be a really good player, I’ve no doubt about that.

“I think he’s had a brilliant season to this point.

“For just a 19-year-old to have played as many games as he has at centre-half, more than 20 games, is an excellent achievement.

“He’s really competitive and has real determination and desire and there’s a lot to like in his game.

“I think he’s someone who learns quick and is learning every single day, which is great to see and be a part of.”

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Meanwhile, Cowley says he admires Colchester captain Connor Hall as ‘both a player and as a person’.

Hall has returned to form of late having experienced a frustrating spell on the sidelines for the U’s due to injury in the first half of the season and has started every game under the Cowleys, so far.

Cowley added: “I think our careers are quite aligned, in that we both probably had to do it the hard way.

“He started off at Bury and has come through the divisions and he’s someone to admire, both as a player and as a person.

“It’s been great to work with him.”