Colchester United do not need to rush into appointing a new head of sports science to replace Stef Russo, according to head coach John McGreal.

Russo has left the U’s after four years and is now set to return to their Essex neighbours Southend United, where he worked prior to arriving at the Community Stadium.

Colchester’s players report back for duty this week with their pre-season drills, with the new League Two campaign kicking off on August 4.

However, boss McGreal says they do not have to be hasty in finding Russo’s successor, with much of the ground work with the players’ fitness put in place at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “Stef’s decided to move on but we still feel we’re strong in that area and we have people within the staff here to carry on his work like Perry Blanchette, who has worked with the first team before.

“It’s one that the club will not rush over.

“Tony Humes is currently going through the process and looking at the applicants.

“The important thing is that we put a fair bit of work in with Stef at the end of last season and things were put in place for pre-season and beyond and that shouldn’t change.

“The person that comes in will continue roughly what we were going to do.”

Russo initially joined Colchester as their academy sports scientist but was promoted to first-team duties following David Carolan’s departure to Birmingham City, in 2015.

“I worked with Stef for two years within the first team and he’s been terrific,” added McGreal.

“It’s ideal for him as he’s gone to a higher-placed club and we wish him all the best for the future."