COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal has revealed his players are urging each other on this season – via their mobile phones.

The U’s players are having regular conversations within their WhatsApp group, which has contributed to the fine team spirit that is currently evident within their squad.

Colchester head into their game against Stevenage today lying fourth in League Two, hoping to put pressure on the top three.

McGreal said: “The players urge each other on and I think that comes with the boys we brought in, in the summer.

“They’ve got a WhatsApp group but I leave them to it – I don’t get involved in any of it!

“There’s a camaraderie amongst them and they do try and pull each other in the right direction, which is great.

“They’re in a good place and I think winning games does that, which thankfully we’ve been able to do on a regular basis but it’s only a start.

“You have to keep feeding players with information and it does help to have that experience and nous and knowhow to edge the younger players in games, when to take the steam out of games.

“We work on a plan and our own philosophy and beliefs and we keep reinforcing that day in, day out.”

McGreal is likely to name an unchanged starting line-up for Colchester’s trip to play Stevenage.

Centre-back Frankie Kent is still sidelined after suffering an ankle injury in the U’s 2-1 defeat against Bury, last weekend.

“Frankie’s been outside doing general work but I don’t think we can push it too much, too soon just in case he has a reaction,” said McGreal.

“Sometimes when you have an ankle injury, it can take a couple of weeks.

“We’re hoping it will be more around then than the four to six weeks that some ankle injuries can take.”

Colchester striker Luke Norris missed out on the League Two player of the month award for September, won by Oldham Athletic youngster Sam Surridge on loan from Bournemouth.

The 25-year-old will be looking to add to his seven-goal tally at Stevenage.

McGreal said: “Luke’s in a rich vein of form. He’s been nominated for player of the month with five goals and two assists.

“His fitness and strength levels are getting closer to maximum and it was a near perfect number nine performance (against Yeovil), apart from the (lack of) goal.”