Colchester United are sixth in League Two with nine games to go

JOHN McGreal has called on the whole of his Colchester United squad to play their part in their League Two run-in.

The U’s lie in sixth spot with nine games of the season remaining, as they aim to secure a coveted play-off place.

Colchester currently have a near fully-fit squad to choose from ahead of their game against Scunthorpe United this weekend, with Paris Cowan-Hall their only sidelined player.

Tom Lapslie and Miles Welch-Hayes both got valuable minutes under their belt for the under-23s earlier this week while Omar Sowunmi is available again after suspension.

U’s head coach McGreal says he will need everyone, as the season reaches an exciting conclusion.

McGreal said: “Everyone is more or less fit now and you see (Tom) Lapslie champing at the bit to try and get involved in the group.

“That’s what we want and we’ll need these boys from now and for the next nine games.

“We drew a line under February because it wasn’t a good month; we know that.

“We took the criticism for it and took it on the chin.

“We stand up and be counted and it’s a new month and beginning and that’s how we said it, from last Monday onwards.”

Colchester are now preparing for back-to-back home games, with their clash with Scunthorpe followed by the visit of league leaders Crewe Alexandra, next Tuesday.

They head into the game on the back of a fine 3-0 win at Carlisle United last weekend, where playmaker Ben Stevenson was in excellent form.

The former Coventry City youngster had a hand in the U’s third goal scored by Kwame Poku and boss McGreal was delighted with his midfield display.

“I said to Ben coming off that it was a masterclass of reading the play, the amount of interceptions he’s got there in that midfield,” added McGreal.

“Pelle’s the enforcer in midfield, getting in amongst people and trying to keep the ball moving.

“But then when they (Carlisle) started throwing a little bit of caution to the wind especially in the second half, some of Ben’s interceptions just in front of our back four were outstanding.

“It was not only him making the interceptions; it was getting the pass away and putting us then on the counter-attack.

“He put himself in some brilliant positions and that’s just from himself being a footballer and reading the game.”