Richard Brindley will become the 43rd player to don a Colchester United shirt this season, when the U’s take on Port Vale at Vale Park tomorrow.

The U’s have already fielded more players in one season, than any time since the end of the Second World War!

A total of 79 players were used in the 1945-46 campaign, when the country was only just coming out of the war, and emergency measures were in operation.

And 69 years later, the current day U’s have also been using an alarming number of players, in their bid to escape relegation.

The latest to be blooded will be Brindley, who will also become the 27th player to make his U’s debut this season, and the 15th loan player to be used.

Left-back Matt Briggs is suspended, for his injury-time dismissal at Gillingham, for the trip to the Potteries.

The Millwall loanee serves a one-match ban, although he will be available for the visit of Barnsley on Easter Monday.

Alex Wynter will switch from right-back to left-back, to deputise for Briggs, while recent recruit Brindley will be handed his U’s debut at right-back.

Brindley is on loan from Rotherham for the rest of the season.

A late decision will be taken on the fitness of skipper David Fox, who hobbled off with bruised and swollen toes at Gillingham.

Midfielder Fox has only been in light training this week, but he travelled up with the rest of the squad this afternoon, and is hopeful of being passed fit.