Colchester United’s key midfielder, Owen Garvan, believes that the U’s two-pronged attack of Kurtis Guthrie and Chris Porter are severely testing opposition defences.

Guthrie netted a hat-trick in the U’s 4-1 home win over Carlisle United on Saturday, after Porter had broken the deadlock.

Garvan explained: “Kurtis has found a position where he is comfortable in, up front. He’s scoring goals, so full credit to him.

“Ports (Chris Porter) has also come back in and been excellent.

“In fact, I think playing two up front in this league can give opposing teams real problems.

“It’s my job to put a few balls into the box, for the other lads to get on the end of, especially from set pieces.

“We didn’t get a goal from a set-piece against Carlisle, but hopefully we will at Newport on Saturday!” added Garvan,

Garvan has provided four assists, and also scored a goal himself, since his comeback from injury.

The Dubliner’s eight appearances to date have coincided with a run of seven wins and a draw for the resurgent U’s, who are up to sixth in the League Two table.

They travel to basement dwellers Newport on Saturday. The Welsh club have lost their last eight league matches.

See today’s ‘East Anglian Daily Times’ newspaper for an in depth interview with U’s midfielder Owen Garvan