TWO of Colchester United's players have been on international duty.

Luke Gambin and Brandon Comley have both been away from the U's, representing their countries.

Gambin came on as a 71st-minute substitute for Malta last night in their 1-0 defeat in the Faroe Islands, in European Championship Group F.

The result leaves Malta bottom of their group, with only three points to their name so far in qualifying.

Gambin had played 90 minutes for his country in their 4-0 home defeat at the hands of second-placed Sweden, last Saturday.

Comley helped Montserrat play out a 0-0 draw with Dominican Republic in their latest CONCACAF Nations League, League B meeting.

The midfielder played the full 90 minutes for his side in the game.

There was disappointment for Comley last Sunday though, as his Montserrat side lost 2-1 at home to league leaders El Salvador.

The former QPR youngster played the full 90 minutes, in the match.

Montserrat currently lie third in League B, on five points.

Colchester could welcome the pair back for their League Two clash at home to bottom side Morecambe, this weekend.

Meanwhile, boss John McGreal has backed his Colchester players to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Crawley Town.

The U's suffered their first League Two defeat in five matches when they were beaten by the Reds, at Broadfield Stadium.

Colchester sit two points off the play-off places and

McGreal said: “We have to go again.

“This group have done it for a number of years now – they’ll pick themselves up and go again.

“You listen to the manager but the manager can’t go out there and play."