Colchester United head coach John McGreal wants his attackers to 'step up to the plate' and get back on the goal trail.

The U's have struggled in front of goal in recent games and have found the net just once in more than six hours of League Two football.

Brandon Comley's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town earlier this month is the only goal they have managed in their last five matches and ahead of their trip to play Stevenage this weekend, boss McGreal wants that to improve.

McGreal said: "We do get up into those areas with good play and it’s just that little bit of inventiveness, in and around the box.

“When we do get a goal, they tend to come like buses in a way.

“But when we don’t, you’re just looking for someone to step up to the plate.

“We’ve got eight games left and it’s a challenge for the boys to try to go and win games of football.

“I thought that we finished the (Morecambe) game quite strongly and we were getting in and around their box but we didn’t have that cutting edge in the attacking third.

“We work on it in training and when we’re in those areas, it’s about having that individuality as well.

“We want them to go and play without fear and we do get into those areas a lot – the stats prove it in every match.

“It’s one we need to improve on and we still work on it in training but it’s up to those individuals to stamp their authority on it.

“It could be a confidence thing but if you listen to them in the dressing room or on the coach, they’re not lacking it and they’re a young, vibrant team.

“They need to go and express themselves – they have a good career in the game and this is an unbelievable club to get it going.

“It’s about maximising what they’re good at, which is either defending where they’ve earned a lot of plaudits this season or attacking.”