Defender Alex Wynter has taken his chance in the U’s back four, having had to bide his time this season, although he admits he is not playing in his favoured position.

Wynter has started Colchester’s previous three league games – his only starts of the season – having had to wait in the wings during the first two months of the season.

He made his comeback, in his favoured centre-back position – in the goalless draw at home to Newport County almost three weeks ago, but has been fielded at left-back, in Lewis Kinsella’s absence, for the U’s last two games away at Doncaster and at home to Morecambe.

“I played left-back last season and have done it before and I am pretty comfortable there,” said Wynter.

“It’s not my preferred position but I am more than happy to sit in and do a job for the team.

“There are quite a few centre-halves at the club at the moment (there is Lloydy (Lloyd Doyley) and Frankie (Kent) and we are all vying for that position but it’s good and it keeps training interesting.”

Explaining the different challenge playing at left-back, Wynter added: “You are more isolated at full-back, you have not always got your partner covering you, but I enjoy it.

“I try to get forward and get involved higher up the pitch, but I want to get my defensive work right and let the attackers do their job.

“You can always improve and I have always enjoyed scoring and creating goals and being involved in them, and it’s nice if I am, but at the end of the day it is a team game and I am a defender first and foremost.”

On his versatility, Wynter explained: “Sometimes it’s an advantage, sometimes it’s a disadvantage as you can be in and out of the team and only come in when you are needed.

“I like to play more central but at the moment I am in the team and I am enjoying it.”

His manager John McGreal has certainly been happy with the 23-year-old’s impact since the former Crystal Palace man returned to the first-team in the league.

“Alex is a centre-half that can play in different positions and we used him at centre-back against Newport and he did very well,” explained the U’s boss.

“He has played at left-back before, under Kevin (Keen) and Tony (Humes) and he is very dependable, you always know what you are going to get.”