Colchester United manager, Tony Humes, had every sympathy for debutant Will Packwood, who endured a miserable first appearance for the U’s at MK Dons last Saturday.

The U’s were crushed 6-0 and centre-half Packwood, who had trouble keeping tabs with Dons striker Benik Afobe – the Arsenal loanee netted a hat-trick – was eventually sent off for a professional foul on Afobe, with 23 minutes still on the clock.

It was therefore a nightmarish debut for America-born Packwood, who had only signed on loan from Birmingham City a few days earlier.

“Will came in for his debut, and he didn’t really get any help from those around him,” admitted Humes.

“He’s a good player, but he got exposed too much, far too easily.

“To be fair to the kid, he worked his socks off to try to do everything he could, but he’s ended up getting sent off.”

Packwood will miss this Sunday’s FA Cup second round tie against Peterborough, due to a one-match suspension following his red card at Milton Keynes.

Meanwhile, Humes made the surprise decision to drop vice-captain, Sean Clohessy, from the match-day squad against the Dons.

On this subject, the U’s boss said: “Sean was not involved in the 18. It was nothing more than that. It’s a decision that has been made. “No disrespect to Sean, but I don’t think he would have made any difference in there because the game is about 11 players or 14 players, and collectively we weren’t good enough.”