DILLON Barnes insists he will be ready if he is recalled to Colchester United’s starting line-up this week.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper looks set to start the U’s Checkatrade Trophy final group game at Cambridge United tomorrow night, after Rene Gilmartin was injured in their 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Accrington Stanley.

Barnes came on as a first-half substitute for player-coach Gilmartin, who suffered a hamstring problem in the first-round clash at the Crown Ground.

It was the youngster’s first appearance for John McGreal’s side in seven games and he says is ready and willing to step up if required, at the Abbey Stadium.

Barnes told the Daily Gazette: “I wish Reg (Gilmartin) all the best with his recovery and if I’m called upon on Tuesday night, I’ll be ready.

“I’m always learning from him – he’s an experienced goalkeeper who’s played the game for a while and has his coaching badges as well.

“I gain a lot of knowledge watching him and he’s a very good goalkeeper.”

Barnes replaced Gilmartin after half an hour at Accrington – but had to pick the ball out of the net four minutes later following Dan Barlaser’s deflected effort.

“You have to be ready, all of the time,” said Barnes, who has made 15 first-team appearances for Colchester so far, this season.

“It was nice to get some minutes and I was happy to get some game time.

“Luckily when I was on loan I had to come off the bench during a game, so I’ve had a little bit of experience of it.

“That doesn’t compare to a big stage and it is difficult but that’s what we train for, Monday to Friday.”

Colchester were knocked out of the cup by Barlaser’s effort, which came off midfielder Harry Pell and looped into the net.

The goal came after the U’s had made a great start to the tie, with Pell, Frank Nouble and Sammie Szmodics all going close for the visitors in the opening 20 minutes.

Barnes added: “It was a shame that was the goal that decided the game, especially in the FA Cup when there’s only one game and you have to win to go through.

“It’s come off Pelle – he’s tried to block it and it’s unfortunate.

“I’ve had to go to save the first one and unfortunately, it’s deflected and wrong-footed me and gone in.

“It wasn’t a good way to concede but we tried to get back into the game and the boys did well.

“If we’d have taken our chances, we could have at least forced a replay or even nicked it.

“Accrington is a difficult place to come to - you know it’s going to be a hard game from minute one but I thought we went out fighting.

“I thought it was an eventful game.

“In the first 20 minutes we were all over them and missed a couple of chances.

“We were on top but obviously there’s been a couple of subs early on but I thought we did well overall.”