BEN Garner says he has loved being back on the training ground with Colchester United.

And the U’s boss says he is in his natural ‘flow state’ when he is coaching and working with players.

Garner returned to football management earlier this month when he was appointed head coach, at Colchester.

For the 42-year-old, it is the latest role in a long coaching career which spans 19 years.

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Garner coached at Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and ATK, prior to managing Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and now Colchester, where is enjoying his role as he gets to work with his players on the Florence Park training pitches.

Garner said: “I’ve loved being back on the grass, I really have.

“You get people talking about when you’re in that flow state and everything else floats away and for me, that’s when I’m coaching and working with players.

“That’s when I’m at my happiest and it’s what I’ve love doing, so to be back on the grass has been really nice.”

Gazette:

Garner is preparing his Colchester side for a trip to play League Two leaders Leyton Orient, this weekend.

The U’s lie six points above the relegation zone, following a run of four successive defeats without a goal.

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Garner is trying to implement his own style on the team but admits it will not happen overnight.

He said “It’s going to take time.

“We’re not expecting to have a week with the players and completely transform the playing style.

“But we’d like to see elements of that and elements of the training week that we’ve worked on.”

Garner’s first Colchester line-up featured two of the club’s academy products, Junior Tchamadeu and Noah Chilvers, while Marley Marshall Miranda was on the bench.

Gazette:

The new U’s boss says there will be opportunities for the club’s youngsters, providing they are talented enough and have the right attitude.

Garner added: “The academy is a strength of the club, without doubt.

“It’s something that the club are proud of, in terms of the academy and what’s been produced and the amount of investment that goes into that.

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“I met with all of the academy staff and all the 18s and the 21 players across two days last week and my message is very clear, as it has been at every club that I’ve managed – if they’re talented enough and they’ve got the right attitude, they will get opportunities.

“They need to be better than what’s in the team, because that’s what gets you there.

“But we want a pathway here and if they’re good enough, they’ll get an opportunity to play.”