COLCHESTER United head coach Hayden Mullins says he is 'extremely happy' with the transfer business the club has done so far, this summer.

The U's have made six signings to date, adding plenty of quality and experience to their squad ahead of the League Two season.

Alan Judge, Frank Nouble, Freddie Sears, Luke Hannant, Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse have all joined Colchester, ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.

And as he prepares for his first season as the club's permanent boss, Mullins says he is delighted with the deals the club have completed.

Mullins said: "I'm extremely happy with what we've done.

"We identified the targets before the season was over and kind of looked at where the squad might be.

"We then identified the key areas where we wanted to try and bring players in.

"It's been fantastic to get our business done quite early.

"We start pre-season with near enough a full squad and it was just disappointing with the Mike Folivi one.

"He picked up an injury in the off season training and he would have been another addition to that squad.

"But it's been a fantastic window."

Colchester have added plenty of experience to their squad over recent weeks, with five of their six new additions aged 29 or over.

The U's six new signings boast nearly 2,800 career games between them, something that Mullins feels will be a vital complement for their talented youngsters.

"We're a club that wants to develop young players and we want to bring young players through," said Mullins.

"We want to bring young players into the first team and I think the group that we've put together will definitely aid their development and help them.

"It will also give us a very competitive team on the pitch.

"They're fantastic characters - we wanted to bring the right people to the club and obviously good players, as well.

"Alan Judge was one who came up on the radar - he came up quite late, to be fair.

"We saw that he had become available and wanted to stay in the area.

"We sat down and had a chat with him and he saw the way that we want to try and do things this season and was very impressed and decided to join us, which was fantastic.

"He was one who we looked at and thought would be a great addition but that we might lose him to a League One club.

"But he's a player with loads of quality and it's fantastic that we've been able to get him."

Colchester have been handed a trip to play Carlisle United for their League Two curtain-raiser.

The U's will make the long trip up to Cumbria for the game at Brunton Park on August 7.

That is followed by a Carabao Cup first-round tie at Championship outfit Birmingham City and then a home clash against Northampton Town, on August 14.

Mullins said: "It's a tough start for us but one we'll be ready for.

"Carlisle are a good side.

"They were a good side last season and Chris Beech will have them organised.

"We then play Northampton who have just come down from League One and it'll be a tough start but one we'll be looking forward to.

"The away trips will give the players more time to gel and also thrown in there is a good cup-tie as well, at Birmingham."