COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal believes they have done 'fantastic business' so far in this summer's transfer window.

The U's have had a productive few weeks of squad building ahead of the new League Two season, with Jevani Brown, Paris Cowan-Hall, Omar Sowunmi, Luke Gambin and Michael Fernandes being drafted in for the first-team squad.

And Colchester are also set to add a new goalkeeper to that contingent, with their former shot-stopper Dean Gerken on the verge of joining them on a free transfer.

Colchester have had to hunt for replacements for the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Frankie Kent and Brennan Dickenson, who have all moved on to pastures new.

But with the start of the new campaign little more than three weeks away, boss McGreal says he is very encouraged by the signings they have made.

McGreal told the Gazette: “We’re only a couple of weeks into pre-season and the club has done fantastic business already.

“The recruitment drive is there and we’ve been trying to put that in place and implement it, over the last three years.

“When you think back to last summer, it was a great one for getting players.

“This summer, we’ve lost talented players but we feel with the recruitment drive behind us and the contact we’ve had, we’ve been able to replace those players with good players or even potentially better players."

Colchester continue their preparations for the new season with a game at Cefn Druids tomorrow (kick-off 1pm).

The U's fixture against the Welsh Premier League side is part of their pre-season training trip to Carden Park, in Cheshire.

"It’s going to be on a 4G pitch so it’ll be different conditions," added McGreal.

“The surface will bring a different test straight away for us.

“We know we’re going to get a tough game again."