Colchester United boss Hayden Mullins has positive Covid test

The U's head coach, who was also absent for the club's home defeat against Crawley Town last weekend, is at home and recovering after contracting coronavirus.

Assistant manager Alex Dyer will once again take the U's team at Swindon on Saturday alongside academy manager Dave Huzzey and performance director, Jon De Souza in Mullins' absence.

Dyer said: "Hayden went and had a test and it was positive.

"It's a case of him staying at home and recuperating, to get ready to hopefully come back in on Monday.

"Hayden's fine - he's getting there.

"He's obviously at home resting at the moment and hopefully, he'll be back in next week.

"I speak to him every day - I firstly check on his well being and then we speak about the lads and training and what we're going to do for the weekend.

"He's not ready to come back in yet but hopefully, he'll be back in on Monday and ready to go.

"The most important thing is that we're following all of the right protocols as a club.

"Hayden was unwell and it was so important that we got him out of the building and tested him."

Colchester say they followed all of the correct Covid protocols and that there have been no other Covid cases in the camp, since Mullins' positive test.

U's goalkeeper Darren Smith is now back with the squad, having missed the Crawley defeat due to illness last weekend.

"Darren is back now - we've all been tested and it's not affected anyone else," added Dyer.

"The club has done the right thing and followed every protocol possible and we're just now looking forward to trying to win the game on Saturday, cheer Hayden up a little bit and get him back in the building on Monday.

"Hayden kicks every ball and he wants this football club to do well.

"We want him to do well but the most important thing is for him to get well and get back in the building and help the boys again."