Colchester United's players reported back for duty today and were put through their paces on the first of pre-season.

The U's squad underwent fitness testing at the club's Warrior's Rest indoor dome facility in Tiptree, under the watchful eye of head coach John McGreal and his assistant, Steve Ball.

U's sport scientist Stef Russo, along with the club's academy sports science colleagues Perry Blanchette and Lewis Coldham supervised as the first-team squad underwent drills and the Yo-Yo Endurance Test.

The likes of Kurtis Guthrie, Luke Prosser, Craig Slater and Denny Johnstone all reported for duty, having returned from injuries that sidelined them last season.

Colchester's players will begin ball work at Florence Park tomorrow, ahead of their first pre-season friendly of the season at Maldon and Tiptree, on Saturday week.

The U's opening League Two game of the campaign is at Accrington Stanley, on August 5.