CALLUM Harriott did not miss Colchester United's game against Salford City because of injury, at the weekend.

The 25-year-old winger started the U's Leasing.com Trophy game against Stevenage, last Tuesday.

But he was not on the teamsheet at all for their 1-0 win over the Ammies, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Harriott has made eight appearances for Colchester so far since returning to the club on a permanent basis in September and his absence from their matchday 18 last weekend raised eyebrows among some fans.

But U's boss John McGreal says the reason the former Charlton Athletic and Reading attacker was missing was due to him having to rotate his squad, with plenty of competition for places at present.

Jevani Brown and Brendan Wiredu were also omitted from Colchester's final 18 for the Salford game as McGreal attempts to juggle a bigger squad, this season.

McGreal said: “We have to rotate the squad to try and keep players happy but also to keep that unity.

“You’ve got Callum, you’ve got Jevani and you’ve got Brendan.

“The only injury we’ve got at this minute is Paris (Cowan-Hall)."

Meanwhile, U's boss McGreal has praised the club's fans for cheering them on until the end against Salford.

Harry Pell's stoppage-time winner sparked wild celebrations among Colchester supporters, after they claimed a dramatic late win.

McGreal added: “The fans could have easily gone but they stayed until the end, so credit to them for that.

“We’ve got that connection and we want to continue that and it’s a nice way to keep that going."