Colchester United will give all of their goalkeepers a chance to nail down a starting spot, according to boss John McGreal.

The U’s kick-off their pre-season friendly programme tomorrow lunchtime with a trip to play Bostik League division north outfit Maldon and Tiptree (kick-off 1pm).

Some of Colchester’s summer signings will be on show at Park Drive, with newly-arrived goalkeepers Bailey Vose and Ethan Ross among those looking to impress at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The duo will compete with Dillon Barnes and player-goalkeeper coach Rene Gilmartin to be the U’s number one in League Two, following the departure of Sam Walker this summer.

McGreal said: “Sam’s gone but if you look at what Dillon Barnes did at the end of last season, where he did everything that was asked of him.

“Rene (Gilmartin) has come back and wants to fight for that number one spot as well.

“So it’s an important position and he’s doing the two roles – being the coach but also trying to be number one and he’s come back fighting fit trying to nail down the number one shirt.

“Ethan Ross and Bailey Vose are also looking to try and push into the first team, too, so pre-season will be very important for them, too.

“It’ll be competitive in there.

“They’ll get opportunities and we’re a club that can offer that.

“We knew we had to bring in back up in that area.”

Colchester have so far made seven signings ahead of the new season and head coach McGreal admits there are unlikely to be many trialists on show, over pre-season – if any.

“I wouldn’t say we would bring trialists in but you can never say never,” said McGreal, who is likely to give the majority of his players 45 minutes of game time at Maldon.

“There’s such a huge turnover of players in this division – you only have to look elsewhere throughout the clubs and a lot of them have done good and big business early on, so we’ll wait and see.

Colchester will be sporting their new away kit at Maldon, who are managed by U’s promotion hero Wayne Brown.

Admission prices for the U’s friendly at Maldon are £5 for adults and £2 for under-16s and concessions (65+).

England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden, which kicks off at 3pm, will be shown on multiple screens in and around Park Drive after the friendly.

Meanwhile, Colchester have signed former Brentford youngster Chris Forino-Joseph on a one-year deal.

The 18-year-old will initially link up with Kevin Horlock's under-23 squad.