Colchester United are “hopeful” of adding to their attack ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.

The U’s want to bolster their firepower before the transfer window closes at 11pm, with a winger at the top of their list.

Colchester have failed to land some of their targets this month, as John McGreal looks to beef up his squad ahead of a League Two promotion push in the final three months of the season.

But U’s head of football operations Tony Ashby says they are working hard to add new faces, before the window slams shut.

Ashby told the Daily Gazette: “Conversations are still on going and there’s lots of work going on behind the scenes.

“We’re still looking to bring in the right type of player and let’s wait and see what happens in the next 24 hours or so.

“We’re hopeful of bringing one or two new players into the building by the deadline but some of it depends on what other clubs are doing, as it has a trigger effect.”

Colchester could re-sign winger Kyel Reid, prior to tonight’s deadline.

The 30-year-old made 19 league and cup appearances for the U’s while on loan from Coventry and has now completed his three-match ban, following his red card against Cheltenham Town earlier this month.

Colchester have already brought in Brandon Comley from QPR and Maldon and Tiptree striker Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, this month.

But there have also been plenty of departures, with Lewis Kinsella, Tommy O’Sullivan, Craig Slater and Dillon Barnes all leaving on loan and Sanmi Odelusi being released, while loan duo Nicke Kabamba and Brandon Hanlan have both returned to their parent clubs.

Ashby has revealed Colchester have cancelled their academy training sessions next Tuesday – so that their young players can watch the under-18s’ FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie against Reading.

Chris Llewellyn’s side are bidding to book a sixth-round home tie against Middlesbrough or Arsenal when they host the Royals at the Community Stadium on February 6, kick-off 7pm.

Ashby, who is also a director on the U’s board, said: “The cup run has been excellent and it’s as far as we’ve been in the competition in the last few years.

“The last time we had a successful run like this in the FA Youth Cup was when we lost to Ipswich Town and they went on to win the competition.

“There are some big clubs who have already been knocked out, like Manchester City.

“We’re going to stop training that night for the Academy kids to watch the game and hopefully it will inspire them to do similar things themselves, in the years to come.”