COLCHESTER United skipper Luke Prosser believes having a bigger squad with more experience this season has been key to their recent impressive form.

The U’s head into their home clash with struggling Stevenage tomorrow having lost only one of their last 11 games, in all competitions.

John McGreal’s side can climb into the League Two play-off places with a win this weekend and Prosser, who has been an ever present for Colchester this season, feels there is a good mixture of youth and experience within their ranks.

Prosser said: “We have strength in depth in our squad this year and it’s really good.

“We have more experienced players, this year with the likes of Gerks (Dean Gerken), Noubs (Frank Nouble), myself, Easty (Tom Eastman), Pelle (Harry Pell), Noz (Luke Norris) and Theo (Robinson).

“I think when I first came to Colchester, Ports (Chris Porter) was a year or two older than me and then that was it.

“We manage our own dressing room as it is, so it probably makes it easier for the gaffer, along with a bit more experience on the pitch.

“No disrespect to the young lads but we now have players coming in who have played 200 league games.

“I remember the bench against Port Vale a couple of years ago where there were ten league games between all of the youngsters.

“The young lads have obviously got to learn their trade someway and in certain games, it is hard.

“But look at Noah (Chilvers) – he came on at Palace and scored the winning penalty which obviously did his confidence the world of good.

“When you have a stronger squad like we have this year, the boys on the bench are warranting a starting place and competition for places is really good and healthy.

“It gives the gaffer a headache in terms of team selection but it’s good.

“We could have started better but we’re in a good run of form what with not losing and the cup run, so we’re in a good place.

“We’ve taken 14 points from our last seven games – that’s an average of two points a game and potentially that’s good enough for promotion.

“We’re on a good little run of form but we want to start winning a few games as well and we were a bit disappointed with how (the Macclesfield game) went, after a good but tough week.

“Training has been buzzing over the last couple of weeks and we’re raring to go.”

Colchester this weekend host a Stevenage side who are yet to register a league victory in 11 attempts.

However, despite Boro's lowly league position, U's captain Prosser is taking nothing for granted.

“It’s a big game," said Prosser, who has made 88 league and cup appearances for Colchester since joining them in 2016.

“Stevenage have picked up a bit over the last couple of weeks with a few new additions and they’ve probably been a little bit more solid.

“They’ve got two draws in their last two games but on paper, they have a good squad and we know that over the years, teams come here bottom of the league and really give us a tough game so we’re expecting a difficult match.

“But it’s a game where we’re looking to get the three points.

“I think Stevenage beat us twice last year, so we know it’s going to be a tough game.

“Over the years, teams at the bottom of the league have come here and made it really difficult for us, so we know we’re going to be in for a difficult game.

“We know that they have quality at the other end to hurt us and they have their threats but it’s a game where we want to go and get the three points."