Craig Slater insists Colchester United’s long unbeaten run shows that they are now among the best teams in League Two.

The U’s lie in the play-off zone, seven points off the automatic promotion places having taken 23 points from a possible 27.

John McGreal’s in-form side have gone nine league games unbeaten for the first time since achieving the milestone under John Ward in March, 2012.

And midfielder Slater believes their excellent recent form shows that they are up there with the leading teams in the division.

Slater told the Daily Gazette: “The run that we’ve been on has been fantastic and I don’t think it could have been any better.

“Things are really on the up and we’re going into every game feeling confident that we can win it and that’s the way that it should be.

“A lot has been made about the teams at the top of the division.

“But with the players and the team that we’ve got, we should definitely be up there.

“It took us a wee while to get going but hopefully now that’s us and we can kick on.”

Slater has played a big part in Colchester’s fine form but could face a race to be fit for their important trip to play Exeter City, this weekend.

The 22-year-old has been carrying a groin injury and was substituted late on in the U’s 1-1 draw at Newport County, last weekend.

Slater is hoping he will be fit for the Grecians clash - and says he is currently relishing every match.

“I feel like I’m getting better with every game and I’m really enjoying my football at the moment,” said the former Kilmarnock man.

“When you do that, it shows on the pitch.

“It was a frustrating game at Newport for myself; the ball wasn’t really in midfield too much and I couldn’t really influence it but that’s football.

“I look at it as a positive result and it keeps us in touch with the teams above us.

“We’ve kept our unbeaten run and it breeds confidence.

“We’d have loved to have beaten Newport but I just felt that chances were few and far between, in the second half.

“I think the boys showed that we can do the other side of the game and the main thing is that we got something from the game and we didn’t lose.

“It was a tough game - they’re fighting for their lives and we’ve been in that position before.

“It wasn’t a great spectacle and the pitch didn’t help but both teams have to play on it.

“I’ve not played on anything like that before - if I’m honest, it was a bit of an eye-opener!

“But I knew that beforehand and it was about doing the hard parts of the game.”