Long-serving defender Tom Eastman says Colchester United’s players feel revitalised ahead of their game at Mansfield Town tomorrow.

The U’s return to action this weekend after a two-week gap between games following the postponement of their match at Morecambe, last Saturday.

John McGreal’s side are desperate to return to winning ways, following back-to-back defeats against sides battling against relegation.

Eastman said: “We’ve had two poor results against teams which we should really be beating but all we can do is focus on the next game.

“It will be a tough game at Mansfield who are a good team but if we’re going to get into the play-offs, we need to win a lot more games and Saturday will be a good start.

“It was a poor performance against Barnet and we’ve had hard training for two weeks since then, when the boys have been at it.

“We’re all ready for the game on Saturday and hopefully, we can get the three points.

“We had a competitive in-house game and it was like a real game, in that everyone was going in for tackles and trying to impress the manager ahead of Mansfield.

“There’s 22 players there and only 11 players that can start, so it’s a competitive squad which is always really good.

“We feel revitalised going into the game on Saturday – we have a big squad now.

“There aren’t many injuries now and we have boys coming back, fighting for positions.

“That’s nice to have and even if you’re not starting, you’re pushing to start.

“We have a good squad and we’ll hopefully be able to get back to winning ways.”

When Colchester take on high-flying Mansfield, they will aim to achieve something they have not managed for nearly two years – win a game of football north of the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester have failed to claim a victory anywhere above the Watford Gap since triumphing 1-0 at Blackpool back in April, 2016 under John McGreal’s predecessor Kevin Keen.

Eastman is one of only three players to feature for the U’s in that match at Bloomfield Road who are still at the club – and the defender admits their lack of wins on northern territory over the last couple of seasons is baffling.

“We prepare for every game right and we don’t do anything differently to how we do it, whether it’s for home games or travelling down south,” said Eastman, who is currently the longest-serving player in the Colchester squad having made his debut for them back in August, 2011.

“It’s nothing you can really put your finger on – it’s just one of those things we need to turn around on Saturday.

“We’ve improved on the road this year and we’ve picked up wins and draws.”

Colchester head into their game at Mansfield looking for a crucial win to boost their play-off hopes.

The U’s lie seven points off the top-seven places in League Two, with 11 games remaining.

Eastman admits it will be a difficult challenge to clinch a play-off spot – but believes it can still be done.

Eastman said: “It was a bit disappointing last year, missing out by only a point in the end.

“We dropped a couple of points at Morecambe I remember and you always look back and wonder what went wrong but we have to try and put that right, this year.

“It’s probably a harder task this year because there are so many teams going for it and games are running out.

“It’s going to be tough but all we can do is try and win games.

“There’s a quarter of the season left now and it’s going down to the wire.”