DANNY Cowley says he intends to make full use of his Colchester United squad ahead of tonight's visit of Reading in the Carabao Cup.

But the U's head coach insists they will attack the first-round tie with the intention of making progress in the competition.

Colchester are aiming to cause a shock by beating their League One opponents at the JobServe Community Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

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Ben Goodliffe is out after dislodging three teeth and suffering two mouth fractures against AFC Wimbledon, while Lyle Taylor (calf) is also unavailable.

The likes of Fiacre Kelleher, Alex Woodyard and Teddy Bishop are standing by to come into the starting line-up, with more changes to the team expected with an important League Two clash against MK Dons on the horizon, this weekend.

Cowley said: "It'll be great to get back to our stadium, in front of our supporters.

"It's our next game so it's one that we're looking forward to.

"We will try to use the squad, I think this is the right thing for us to do at this time of the season with a really tough game against MK Dons on the horizon.

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

"We will look to use our squad but it's absolutely a game that we'll attack and like always, we'll try to win."

Colchester are aiming for a quick response to their 4-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon, on the opening day of the new League Two season.

Cowley said: "Ultimately, what we have to do is look in the mirror, take the learning from the experience and look at what we can control.

"I think there were quite a few things we can control much better than we did.

"For all of us, you have a choice - you either look out of the window and blame everyone else or you look in the mirror and take some responsibility.

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"It's for us to go away and all have a think about what we can do to learn from and come back as a stronger group."

Colchester's clash with Reading tonight will be their first game at the Community Stadium since comprehensive drainage work was carried out on the pitch, over the summer months.

The work led to the U's scheduled home friendlies against Cambridge United and Peterborough United being relocated.

"I think we've made right decision," added Cowley.

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

"Of course, we'd have loved to have been able to play on our pitch in pre-season, we'd have loved to have been able to play in front of our supporters.

"Sometimes as a football club, you have to make an intelligent decision for the long term and I think we've done that.

"It allowed for the pitch to have a bit more space to grow.

"After the problems we had last year, there's so much work that happened underneath and I suppose that's not always for people to see.

"It's just meant that it's taken a little bit more time for the pitch to be ready.

"But we're hopeful that come Tuesday, it'll be in really good condition and we're really looking forward to the Reading game and of course, the MK Dons game after."