COLCHESTER United already have a clear idea of the business they need to do in the January transfer window.

That’s the view of U’s head coach Danny Cowley, who says the next window is a ‘very important period’ for them as they prepare to bolster their squad for the second half of the season.

Colchester experienced an eventful summer of squad rebuilding, with more than a dozen new players added and boss Cowley says they will be looking to seize their opportunity to bring in more new signings when the window reopens in six weeks’ time.

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Cowley said: “When the window shuts at the beginning of September, you’re straight away thinking about the next window, particularly where we are as a club and where we are, in terms of our development.

“We had the summer window and we know that for us to get to where we want to go, we have to use every opportunity.

“Of course in football, you can only recruit at two times in the year so these become very important periods.

“Of course, the January transfer window is notoriously more challenging than the summer windows. But we’re clear on what we need.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“We sold a lot of athleticism in the summer and picked up some injuries in Owura and Samson, Teddy who’s an athletic boy and young Milton so that’s hurt us, in terms of that attribute.

“We’re clear on what we need to do in January but like always, we have to make sure that we can work within the finances available.”

Cowley says the summer additions they made have ensured competition for places, within their squad as they look to move up the League Two table.

“We expected a lot of change and I think it’s natural, when you finish 22nd in League Two that there is going to be change,” continued Cowley.

“We probably didn’t anticipate as much as there’s been but with so many new players, so many new personnel and new partnerships and relationships, it’s our job to try to accelerate the process on the training ground.

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“We’re working really hard to try to do that and develop the players’ game understanding and sync the players up and build the connection.

“We’re making really good progress and we’re certainly working really, really hard at it.

“We’ve got real competition for places which is great and that means that the players, day in, day out and game in, game out have to be at their very best.

“If they don’t, then they’ve got someone right on their shoulder.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

“We’re in a place where our understanding of the players and the team dynamics is growing and this will only help us to make good decisions for the team.

“Ultimately, we have everybody’s full commitment; it doesn’t matter if you start or finish, even if you’re not in the 18 – you can all have a big influence on the team’s success at the weekend by the way that you conduct yourself, by the way that you train, by the way that you behave, in and around the group.

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“These are the things that we’re continually trying to encourage but I live my life by seeing the best in people.

“I like high energy, positive people, I like people with enthusiasm.

“You only have one life and I lead mine by seeing the best in myself and the best in the people around me and I live much happier as a consequence.

“I encourage the group and all of the people within the group to live like that.”