Colchester United boss, Tony Humes, has ruled out the possibility of dipping into the loan transfer market to bolster his leaky defence.

The U’s go into tomorrow night’s home game, against Port Vale, with the worst defensive record in the whole of the Football League, having conceded 27 goals in their first 13 league fixtures.

Having leaked four goals in the 4-2 defeat at Shrewsbury, the U’s let in five during last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing at Wigan.

But Humes explained: “I don’t think we can bring anyone else in, defensively-wise.

“We’ve got a budget, and we know where we are in terms of that.

“If you’re missing three or four playeres through injury, you can’t do anything, you’ve got to just work with what you have got,” added Humes.

Full-backs Kane Vincent-Young and Richard Brindley are currently out injured, as is back-up defender Jamie Harney, while winger Gavin Massey (calf) and midfielder Owen Garvan (bad bruising) both missed the defeat at the DW Stadium.

Massey looks set to sit out tomorrow night’s game as well, although Garvan has a chance of returning.