JOHN McGreal insists all of his Colchester United squad members will be needed this season if they are to be a success in League Two.

The U’s host Grimsby Town tonight looking to build on their promising start to life in their fourth tier, where they have claimed four points from a possible six.

The likes of Macauley Bonne, Frankie Kent and George Elokobi failed to make the substitutes bench for Colchester’s 2-0 win over Cambridge United last weekend, as McGreal utilises his squad.

But the U’s head coach has stressed that all of his players will be required, if they are to mount a serious challenge this season.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “I think it shows the strength of the squad.

“If you look at the bodies on the bench, they’ve actually come on and affected the game when they’ve needed to.

“It will obviously change through injuries and suspensions throughout the season but it’s about me trying to keep everyone happy.

“We need to keep these boys fit and on the front foot because without a shadow of a doubt, they will be needed.

“The team that started (against Cambridge) won’t finish the season so we need everyone that we have in the squad.

“We’ve got important players in important positions and we’ll need everyone this season, as it’s going to be a tough league.

“Everyone wants to play and that means selection for me and different things that I have to work on but it’s a great start.”

Colchester will be hoping to record back-to-back home wins for the first time since last September tonight, in their first meeting with Grimsby for more than 12 years.

The newly-promoted side have experienced a mixed start to life in League Two, having won one and lost one of their opening two games.

McGreal added: “We’ll do all of our work on Grimsby and we’ve had the scouts out watching them.

“It’ll be a different test and it’s a night match as well.

“Will we have different personnel? We don’t know but we have a good squad.”