Doug Loft admits his long-awaited return to Colchester United’s starting line-up was spoilt by their home defeat against Wycombe Wanderers.

But after making his injury comeback, the experienced midfielder has now quickly set his sights on helping the U’s banishing their away-day blues tomorrow night.

Loft returned to first-team action earlier than expected after spending more than a month on the sidelines with a calf injury to start for Colchester in their 2-1 defeat against the Chairboys.

It was only the 30-year-old’s fourth league start for the U’s - and his first home start - since joining them from Gillingham in 2016 and now he is eager to help his side end their away hoodoo by winning at Grimsby Town.

Loft said: “It was a little bit unexpected (to be back in the side).

“I’d trained for a week but I felt good and I was happy.

“I surprised myself how good I felt and it was good to be back - it was just a shame not to get a win at the end of it.

“We’ll pick our heads up and we can take a lot from the loss, because we felt we played well and we’ll go again at Grimsby.

“People are saying we can’t win away from home but I think we can and we will.

“We have two big away games coming up and I’m confident that we’ll get six points from them.

“We played well and haven’t got the points, so I’d take playing badly and getting three points on Tuesday.

“We have to go to Grimsby with the mindset to get three points and I’m sure we will.”

Colchester suffered their first home league defeat since March after losing to Wycombe.

The U’s fell behind to Nathan Tyson’s strike and although Brandon Hanlan equalised just before half-time, Craig Mackail-Smith bagged the visitors’ winner midway through the second half.

Loft, whose only other start for Colchester this season came in their 3-0 loss at Luton Town, said: “I felt we deserved something. We had a lot of chances and their keeper was probably man of the match.

“It was a good game to come back into and it was a shame that we didn’t get the three points.

“It was probably one of our best performances at home.

“We could have had six or seven goals and we know that we have to be ruthless in their box and better in ours. But to be fair to the keeper, he was very good.”

Loft completed 80 minutes against Wycombe before being replaced by Nicke Kabamba.

“My hamstring is a little bit tight but that happened in the 20th minute so I played on,” he added.

“It’s OK and hopefully I’ll be ready for Tuesday - I’m confident I’ll be alright.”