MATT Jay is set to be named in Colchester United’s squad for their FA Cup tie at Swindon Town this weekend.

The 28-year-old forward has found himself out of favour at the U’s this season and has made only one competitive appearance, in the club’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy group game against MK Dons, in September.

After starting Colchester’s first two games under Danny Cowley, the former Exeter City has not been named in the U’s starting line-up in League Two since January.

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However, with teams permitted to name nine substitutes in the FA Cup and with injuries in the attacking positions, Jay is set to travel to the County Ground with the U’s squad for the first-round tie.

Colchester head coach Danny Cowley said: “Matt has found opportunities few and far between.

“The rules on Saturday allow us to use more players, which we see the positives in.

“One of the positives of that is that we’ll be able to include Matt into the matchday squad.

(Image: Steve Bond/PPAUK)

“Matt has just played three under-21 games in the last ten days, so he’s had some good minutes in that respect.

“He’s a good trainer and I have a lot of respect for the way that Matt has conducted himself, the professional that he is.

“We have a good relationship.

“It’s never personal; we just try to make the best decisions to help the team and the club win."

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Teams are permitted to have nine substitutes for FA Cup ties this season, with five of those allowed to be used.

Colchester have all of their loanees - Aaron Donnelly, Jamie McDonnell and Anthony Scully - available for the tie after they were given permission to play by their parent clubs.

However, young winger Oscar Thorn, who has started the U's last two League Two games, is cup-tied for the Swindon game having played for loan club Chelmsford City in the FA Cup earlier in the season.