DANNY Cowley has highlighted the importance of building relationships with Essex non-league clubs ahead of Colchester United’s opening pre-season game of the summer.
The U’s make the short trip to play Pitching In Isthmian League division north side Maldon and Tiptree tomorrow, as they prepare for the new League Two campaign.
Colchester are set to give each player 45 minutes of game time at Park Drive, against an ambitious Jammers side who are targeting automatic promotion under former U’s under-21 boss Kevin Horlock, this season.
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Maldon boast the likes of ex-Colchester favourites Tom Eastman, Freddie Sears, Cameron James, Louis Dunne and Anthony Wordsworth, in their squad.
U’s head coach Cowley said: “They [Maldon and Tiptree] are definitely going for it aggressively, aren’t they? Wow, what a squad they’re putting together!
“Tough start, for sure, but it’s always great for us to go to our local clubs and build relationships.
“We’re trying to do that with Maldon, with Heybridge Swifts, with Chelmsford – for us, these relationships are so important.”
New signings Ben Perry, Will Goodwin, Jack Tucker, Jaden Williams and Dominic Gape are all expected to be involved for Colchester against Maldon and Tiptree along with experienced defender Tom Flanagan, who this week signed a new deal to stay at the club.
Winger Harry Anderson is making good progress with his knee injury suffered in Colchester’s home clash with Grimsby Town, in March.
The 28-year-old is battling back from a medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee which saw him miss the U’s final seven games of last season.
“Harry’s back on the grass and he’s training, which is good,” said Cowley.
“He’s worked really hard this summer and looks in good shape.”
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Cowley says Colchester are erring on the side of caution with midfielder Milton Oni’s comeback, as he edges closer to a return.
Oni, 19, spent much of the 2024-25 campaign on the sidelines after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture and meniscal tear on his first senior start in Colchester’s Carabao Cup second-round tie against Premier League outfit Brentford, last August.
Cowley added: “Milton has just got back from Loughborough.
“He’s been there for a week, just a change of scenery.
“An ACL is a tough injury and he’s making good progress.
“It’s a nine-month injury but for every month that you wait after nine months, the risk of reinjury drops dramatically so we’re being pretty cautious.
“That’s frustrating for him and it’s frustrating for us because we’re so excited about him getting back on the grass and getting playing but sometimes, you just have to make intelligent decisions, even when they’re sometimes not ones you want to make.”
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After their game against Maldon and Tiptree on Saturday, the U’s will travel to play League One side Luton Town and then Championship club Oxford United in their next pre-season games.
Both matches will be played behind closed doors.
