STEVE Ball has urged his entire Colchester United squad to ‘be ready’ ahead of their game with Newport County.

The U’s travel to play the League Two leaders at Rodney Parade in confident mood after back-to-back wins and boss Ball wants all of his players to be prepared for action.

Ball said: “We’re going to need the whole squad together.

“I have a competitive group - there’s five or six lads who aren’t playing at the minute I want to be ready too.

“It’s a big game and Newport have started on fire, so we can expect a really tough encounter there.

“The modern player recovers well and we have processes in place to make sure that they’re ready.”

Ball has admitted that his Colchester side have not been at their best in the last few games, despite their recent victories over Harrogate Town and Forest Green Rovers.

The U’s have had to overcome some difficult moments in those games to secure back-to-back wins and boss Ball is happy with the way in which his side have stuck together, to achieve results.

“Spirit goes such a long way in this division,” said Ball.

“Teams will come to us and stop us playing.

“In the four years I’ve been here, I think there’s been games when possibly at times when the going got a little bit tough that might have been a question mark.

“What we’re trying to instil a little bit is that real understanding of sticking together and saying if it’s not going right on the ball, let’s be right off the ball.”

Ball could make changes to his starting line-up for tonight’s game at Newport, with games coming thick and fast.

The likes of Luke Norris, Josh Bohui and Luke Gambin are all pushing for recalls, for the League Two clash (7pm kick-off).