Colchester United have enough “options” to mount a successful push for the League Two play-offs, during the last 15 games of this season.

The U’s stopped the rot on Saturday, by ending a six-game winless streak with a 2-0 home win over Newport County.

And that result came on the back of a productive transfer deadline day last Thursday, when midfielder Ben Stevenson, striker Liam Mandeville and winger Olamide Shodipo all arrived on loan deals, from Wolves, Doncaster and QPR respectively.

Furthermore, the anticipated return of winger Brennan Dickenson and centre-half Ryan Inniss, after injuries, promises to strengthen the squad, and increase those options still further going into the last three months,

“We’ve got a good squad now, of about 19 or 20 players,” enthused boss John McGreal. “We’ve got a lot more options, and we knew that we had done good business last Thursday,

“We have players coming on from the bench who can make an impact, and in Liam (Mandeville) we have a one-in-three man in this division.

“That’s why we are going to give it a right good go, to get into those play-offs.

“We’re really happy with what we have got, and we will be giving it a real go in these last 15 games,” added McGreal.

Front-runner Mandeville’s services were not even required last weekend, the Rovers loanee being an unused substitute as goals from Stevenson and Tom Eastman wrapped up a 2-0 success.

- ‘Credit goes to Courtney’ – Colchester United debutant Ben Stevenson

Fellow new recruit Stevenson, on as a substitute for the injured Sean Murray, took just 10 minutes to break the deadlock on his debut, while Shodipo did not figure due to a minor injury.

McGreal also chose to leave three of his regulars starters on the bench, in leading scorer Sammie Szmodics, winger Drey Wright and midfielder Tom Lapslie.

All in all, therefore, it should be an exciting final third of the season, beginning with this Saturday’s long trip to Carlisle United.

“Draws had been frustrating for us,” admitted McGreal, whose side had drawn four of their previous six fixtures.

“But it’s looking good and we also have Ryan (Inniss) and Brennan (Dickenson) on their way back.”