Colchester United head coach John McGreal admits he has some big decisions to make ahead of today’s clash with Newport County – and says how his players are performing in training with influence his starting line-up.

McGreal has three new loan signings – Liam Mandeville, Ben Stevenson and Olamide Shodipo – pushing for their U’s debut after arriving on transfer deadline, while the likes of Luke Prosser and Ryan Inniss are back from injury and also hoping to return.

McGreal said: “The boys that have been in the team have got to watch their backs because not only have we brought in three quality signings; these injured boys are now knocking on the door, too.

“I do make decisions on how boys are performing in training and that’s what I’ll be looking at.

“Luke Prosser and Ryan Inniss were both back on it in training – they are fit and ready and these boys now want to play.”

McGreal is expecting opponents Newport to give everything for a victory tomorrow, despite the prospect of their FA Cup fourth-round replay against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley looming next week.

The Exiles will take on Spurs next Wednesday, after holding the Premier League club to a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade, last weekend.

McGreal said: “It’s going to be a very tough game for us – they have the Tottenham game in midweek but it’s all about us and what we do.

“We can’t put in a first-half performance like we did against Grimsby which was nowhere near good enough and we want the fans to be clapping us because we’re doing things right, from that first minute.

“Newport weren’t resting any players for the Lincoln game, on Tuesday night.

“They went for it and we’re expecting the same full team pretty much again.

“I know they might change one or two but they’ve been up there around the top eight or nine all season and won’t want to get away from that.

“They will be coming to get the three points to give them the confidence, before the Tottenham game.”