Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is urging his fringe players to buckle down and start challenging for a first team place.

Several players at Layer Road are sweating on their U's futures as the club goes into the second half of the season.

And with the U's battling against relegation back into the Third Division, Whitton has urged the squad to fight for their places.

Whitton brought back the likes of striker Tony Lock when he took over the helm from Mick Wadsworth in September.

He is still on a weekly contract at Layer Road and was due to play in the reserve team game against Peterborough yesterday.

The futures of Lock, along with youngsters such as KK Opara, goalkeeper Andy Walker, Sam Okafor and Jack Wignall are all on the line as they approach the end of the season.

Now Whitton wants them to prove their worth by pitching in to help the U's stave off relegation and earn the right to be rewarded with professional contracts.

He said: "Everyone at this club must prove their worth to me. That includes the players in the first team and the players we have trying to break in.

"They are fighting for their very lives at the foot of the Second Division and we need them to perform at their very best for this club.

"That is why having reserve team games is so important. It gives players the chance to show what they can do and to prove they can do a job.

"Tony Lock, for instance, is battling hard to win the right to stay here and earn a long contract with the club.

"He came into the side early on but he has not been able to keep his place in the side because of the form of people like Duguid and Lua Lua.

"But that doesn't mean to say they have no future here. It just means they have to work that little bit harder.

"The same goes for some of the young lads in the youth and reserve teams who are hoping to get a professional contract.

"The likes of Wignall and Walker have tasted first team action and they want more. That can only be good news for the club and their long-term futures."

The U's home match against Wycombe Wanderers has been re-arranged for Tuesday, January 18, kick off 7.45pm.

The original match, scheduled for Tuesday, December 29, was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Tickets purchased for that match will be valid for the re-arranged date.

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