Colchester United head coach John McGreal insists scooping the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month award is all down to a “massive team effort”.

The fine efforts of McGreal and his U’s players have been recognised after he landed the December accolade, following a month which saw the club turn their fortunes around.

Having previously gone ten league matches without a win, Colchester claimed ten points from a possible 12 last month.

It formed the mainstay of their seven-match unbeaten run which they aim to extend against third-placed Carlisle United tomorrow.

And after claiming the EFL award, boss McGreal paid tribute to his players for turning their season around.

“I’d like to say it’s all about me but it’s been a massive team effort from myself and Steve (Ball) and great credit to the players for the run that they’ve been on of late, throughout December and over the Christmas period,” said McGreal, who beat off competition from Cambridge United’s Shaun Derry, Gareth Ainsworth of Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale to win the monthly gong.

“It’s been fantastic, how they’ve adapted to different formations, different personnel coming into the team and we’ve had a settled squad that I think has really helped.

“They’re just a group who want to improve and they’ve proved that over the last five or six weeks and hopefully we can maintain that hunger and desire and continue it on.

“The small window that I’ve had of being a manager from the beginning up until now has been a rollercoaster and there’s been ups and downs but I’ve enjoyed every single minute.

“I even enjoyed it during the winless run, trying to get the boys to win games of football.

“When we’re winning it’s great but you just want to keep improving – that’s what you try and do as a football club.”

Colchester will assess striker Denny Johnstone today ahead of the Carlisle game after he missed the Cheltenham Town win with a hamstring strain.

However, the game will come too soon for Jermaine Grandison and Matt Briggs, who both played in the U’s Essex Senior Cup defeat at East Thurrock United on Wednesday night.