John McGreal says he is confident key midfielder Owen Garvan will still be a Colchester United player when the new League Two season gets underway next month.

The former Ipswich Town player did not travel to Cheshire with the rest of the U’s squad for their pre-season training camp, last week.

Garvan, 28, instead featured for Colchester’s under-21 side in their friendly at Heybridge Swifts, despite not suffering from any injury.

It has sparked speculation that the former Premier League playmaker, who has a year remaining on his current deal at Colchester, could be set to depart the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

However, Garvan attended Colchester’s annual Open Day with the rest of the first-team squad last Sunday, posing for their team picture.

And boss McGreal says Garvan, who skippered the U’s in the final weeks of last season, will feature tonight when they host his old club Ipswich, in a pre-season friendly.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “Owen played for the under-21s last week and what he’ll do is come back in against Ipswich.

“He didn’t have a knock; it was just a decision that we came to.

“He’s still part of our plans and he’s had all of the photographs taken (at the club’s Open Day).

“Owen’s been involved in the pre-season games apart from the trip and he’ll be involved in our next four pre-season games.

“Hopefully he’ll be involved in the (opening) game against Hartlepool and I’m confident that he’ll start the season with Colchester – I don’t see why not.”

Garvan has made 35 appearances for Colchester since joining them on a free transfer last September, scoring once.

McGreal says he is not expecting any further players to leave the U’s before they begin the new campaign at Hartlepool United, on August 6.

A number of key players have exited the U’s this summer, with the likes of Alex Gilbey, George Moncur and Joe Edwards all departing for pastures new.

However, Colchester have brought in plenty of reinforcements over recent weeks, with the likes of Craig Slater, Doug Loft and Luke Prosser boosting their ranks.

“If something comes in and we feel that the time is right for that person to move on, then we’ll think about it,” added McGreal.

“But at the moment, we’re gelling quite well – the dynamics have completely changed and we’re brought six or seven in so it’s a different mentality and we’ll see what happens.”