BEN Garner believes his buoyant Colchester United players are ‘chomping at the bit’ to embark on another League Two game at Newport County tonight.
Colchester’s performances have been good over recent weeks and they can leapfrog their opponents with a win at Rodney Parade this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
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U’s boss Garner said: “We’ve set a target for this week, with three games in seven days.
“We’re onto Newport now and we’re hungry for that.
“When you win a game like that (against Notts County), the players will play again tomorrow.
“They’ll be chomping at the bit so we’ll have a rest and recover and then we’ll prepare and look forward to that game.
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“I’ve been saying for a few weeks that I think we’re a side that’s developing and growing.
“We’ve got six players missing; if you take six players out of their (Notts County) squad, they’re in a different place.
“We’ve had to cope with these injuries and credit to everyone that’s stepped up and the togetherness of the group but other teams are going to go through spells of the season with injuries and bad luck.
Garner will have to change his Colchester starting line-up for the first time in five matches tonight.
The U’s will be without suspended duo Cameron McGeehan and Mandela Egbo against Newport, with Jay Mingi and Will Greenidge standing by to start.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got a suspension or two now for Tuesday night but it provides other opportunities for other people,” said Garner.
“We train and prepare so that everyone who comes in is ready to go and we’ll certainly be ready for Newport.”
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Newport are without a win in their last five league matches but were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Salford City last weekend, after Will Evans had a goal controversially chalked off for offside.
Garner added: “Newport are a good side and it’s a difficult place to go.
“Graham (Coughlan) for sure will have them really well organised and hard to beat.
“They’re always a really hard working and physical team and they’ve got quality and they can play.
“We know what a tough test it’s going to be but we should be sitting here with four wins in a row.
“We were looking statistically last week, prior to the Notts County game, at our first three games and our last three games and the improvement is remarkable.”
