BEN Garner says there will be a ‘blank canvas’ for his Colchester United players to earn a place in his starting line-up this week.

The U’s boss is still smarting from his team’s abject display in losing 3-1 at home to Morecambe, at the weekend.

Garner was unhappy with the level of performance of many of his players against the Shrimps and insists the issues that plagued his side will be addressed, ahead of this weekend’s trip to play bottom club Forest Green Rovers.

READ MORE: Changes on the horizon for U's after Morecambe defeat

Garner said: “There’ll be a blank canvas this week for people to stake their claim because there will be changes, for sure.

Gazette: Colchester United

“Chay Cooper and Tom Hopper came on and did what was asked of them, played their position, worked hard and did well and that’s all we ask.

“Do your role for the team within the shape; we had too many who wanted to go and do their own thing and the whole team shape goes.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Morecambe defeat

“It’s pure basic effort, commitment, giving everything for the shirt, giving everything for the club and that wasn’t there and you can’t win games of football like that.

“That has to be addressed and it will be addressed.

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“We were due to have an extra day off because we’ve got a lot of games coming up and we wanted to give the players a little bit of recovery time.

“But that’s gone unfortunately; there’s no way we can do that now after that.

“We’ve got a full week to prepare and we’ve got to put a performance in next week that first and foremost, is worthy of the club and the supporters and secondly, a performance that’s worthy of getting three points at Forest Green.”

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Morecambe defeat

Colchester were jeered off at full-time following their defeat to Morecambe, a result that left them three points above the League Two relegation zone.

Garner added: “Our supporters were absolutely right to boo, because it was nowhere near good enough.

“It’s purely a mentality thing.

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“There are certain games where we’re switched on and up for it and there’s other games where we’re not.

“That’s very, very frustrating and we’ve got to get to the bottom of that.

“We’ve got some senior players coming back from injury, which we badly need.

“But I don’t think you can use the injuries and suspension as an excuse.

READ MORE: Ben Garner apologises to fans after U's home defeat

“We’ve been missing players since the start of the season; we had eight missing on Tuesday (at Newport) and seven missing (against Morecambe) but that doesn’t excuse that performance.

“The players on the pitch have to take responsibility, we take responsibility.

“I’m not hiding behind anything; that isn’t good enough.

“I still think there’s great quality within the group and great potential there but at the moment, as a group, we’re letting ourselves down.”