TOM Eastman has always proved to be a model professional during his mammoth spell at Colchester United.

So the long-serving defender’s approach to dealing with his recent spell on the sidelines is not a bit surprising.

“Everyone does it their own different way when they’re not playing,” said the popular centre-back.

“I just get on with it – turn up every day, work hard in training and wait for my chance.”

It was an unfamiliar feeling for Eastman to recently be out of Colchester’s starting line-up.

The Colchester-born defender has been at the U’s since 2011 and has clocked up nearly 450 appearances for them, in that time.

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In his long time at the club, Eastman has been one of the first names on the Colchester teamsheet so it was a strange feeling for him to be omitted from not only the starting line-up but also the matchday 18, over recent times.

However, the 30-year-old returned to the team for the first time in six matches in the 1-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers in midweek and gave a good account of himself.

He said: “It was tough for me as I have been playing quite a lot throughout my whole career and been one of the first choices.

“It’s obviously not ideal but if you look at every person in that changing room right now, I’m sure they’ve been in my shoes over the last few weeks and had spells out of the team.

“It’s just how you react to that and what you do on the training pitch, to try to get back into that team.

“It’s a long season with a lot of games and I think maybe my experience helped.

“When I was a bit younger, it might have got into my head a little bit but I was quite calm about it.

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“I knew there were a few games left and that I’d be needed at some point – it’s just about being ready, when that opportunity came.

“Dallo (Tom Dallison) had an injury, Tommy Smith was ill on the day and couldn’t play so when your chance comes – and more likely than not it’s going to come at some point – I’ve got to be ready to take it.

“It was nice to be back in the team.

“There were a couple of injuries and I got the chance the other night and felt I gave a good account of myself, so I was pleased to be back in the team.

“It was a shame about the result in the end but as a team performance, I thought we battled really hard and gave them a real tough game.

“They’re doing quite well in the league at the minute and it was a shame we couldn’t get at least a draw.

“Especially since Browny (Wayne Brown) and Joe (Dunne) have come in, I feel we’ve put in some really good performances.

“We’re looking quite solid as a team and hopefully over the next few games, we can pull even further away from the drop.”

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Eastman and his Colchester team-mates are preparing for their big clash with League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers, tomorrow night.

In addition to being screened live on Sky Sports, the match at the JobServe Community Stadium is also A Game for Ukraine, where the U's are aiming to raise £100,000 for the Ukraine humanitarian effort by selling every seat in their stadium for the discounted £10 admission fee.

“It’s great credit to the chairman for coming up with this and it’s a great cause to be a part of,” said Eastman, who made his Colchester debut back in 2011.

“Hopefully, it’ll be a big attendance and we can put in a good performance.

“Since I’ve been here, when the TV games have come around I think we’ve produced quite well.

“Earlier in the season when we went to Sudbury, it could have been a potential banana skin and we performed well and in the past, the games like Preston have stood out.

“Hopefully there’ll be another one coming.

“The thing about this league is that anyone can beat anyone.

“It’s just about turning up on the day and hopefully getting a good result.”

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Colchester are set to welcome back one of their former players, tomorrow night.

Ben Stevenson, who made nearly 100 appearances for the U’s, has been a big part of Forest Green’s title push, this season.

Eastman added: “Ben’s a really good player.

“We still speak to him a little bit now on the group chat.

“It’ll be good to see him again but hopefully, he’ll be on the losing side on Monday!”