COLCHESTER United's players have travelled to Cheshire today for their annual pre-season training camp.

The U's squad, along with boss John McGreal and assistant manager Steve Ball, have made the trip to the Carden Park complex, near Chester.

The venue has been a regular destination for McGreal and his U's squad since his appointment as head coach in May, 2016.

They will be there until Saturday, with Colchester's players put through their paces ahead of the forthcoming League Two season ahead of the big kick-off, on August 3.

Colchester will take on Welsh Premier League side Cefn Druids in a pre-season friendly on Saturday lunchtime as part of the trip before returning for the club's annual Open Day at the JobServe Community Stadium, the following day.

McGreal said: “It’s brilliant over that way.

“You’ve got a great pitch for what you need to work on but also to get your exercise.

“There’s a great gym in there as well to do your gym work covering all aspects of the body work and also a pool, to put in that session too.

“The chairman (Robbie Cowling) again has been great with it.

“We’ve been there three or four times now and it’s a fantastic place to go, to get that extra work.

“When you take the boys away, they’re living in each other’s pockets.

“There’s not a brand new team but there’s a lot of new players and they need to get to know each other.

“There’s no better way than going away for a couple of days and finding out each other’s traits and habits and bonding.

“That’s the biggest thing – getting that bond straight away."