Experienced Colchester United defender Lloyd Doyley admits he has had to be patient and wait for his chance since arriving at the club four months ago.

But the former Watford favourite says he is ready to help the U’s secure three valuable points against Barnet if he is called upon to make his home debut tomorrow.

Doyley has made only one start for Colchester since joining them on a free transfer last October and has been a regular on the substitutes bench for them during a run of form which has seen them lose only one of their last 11 games in League Two.

But with Tom Eastman doubtful with an ankle injury, the 34-year-old could make his maiden U’s home appearance at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

And Doyley says he is ready to help boost Colchester’s promotion hopes, if called upon.

Doyley said: “We still don’t know what’s going to happen on Saturday but hopefully, I’m back involved.

“It’ll be great to make my home debut but home or away, it doesn’t really make a difference for me.

“We’ve been on a great run and I’ve had to wait and be patient for when the boss needs me and that’s the way you want it really.

“You want competition as part of the squad and I’m just here waiting and trying to train well every day to get in the team.

“I know how football works – if there’s a winning team, it doesn’t change and the back three has done awesome over the last 11 or 12 games and I’ve had to wait.

“I’ve been part of the squad and I’m here to help the young lads, as much as it’s for me to kick on my career.

“There’s a lot of young lads here and I’m here to help them either in training or at half-time and try and encourage them or maybe tell them how they can do better.

“I think that’s why the boss brought me here.”

Colchester head into their game with Barnet level on points with their opponents in the table, with both sides sitting four points off the play-off positions.

“Barnet are normally down the bottom every year but this year, they’ve stepped up a lot,” said Doyley, who has more than 400 career appearances under his belt.

“I think they’ve got a bit more of a settled squad now.

“It’s going to be a tough game; hopefully we’ll have a good crowd supporting us and being our extra man.”