Taylor has more options for Colchester trip

Lee Martin and Dean Moxey are set to return to the squad for Exeter City this afternoon when the team takes on Colchester United in Essex.

Manager Matt Taylor has been missing a modicum of players in recent weeks, with attacker Martin injured and defender Moxey suspended.

The Grecians also have Chiedozie Ogbene back fit and Jimmy Oates, Matt Jay and Archie Collins played 90 minutes in the midweek 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in the Central Reserve League.

Taylor said: “Lee Martin has trained this week so hopefully he’ll be in contention, he’ll travel with the squad.

“Dean Moxey is coming back from suspension but we also did a bit of exploration into a couple of long-term injuries, but he’s come through it okay. I’ve got to use him when I see fit.

“The rest of the group have come through the week relatively unscathed.

“It was a positive game, I’ve said how I’ve been frustrated by the lack of competitive reserve team action we’ve had.

“It was a proper game of football, Plymouth were on top in the first half and second half we came back into it and finished the stronger team.

“It was good to get minutes for lads who needed them and that should stand them in good stead for the next two games on Saturday and Tuesday.

“We got some good work into the lads this week.

“It’s been a cold but dry week so that standard of training has been where we need it to be.

“We’ll finish it off with a short, sharp, session tomorrow and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

After last weekend’s draw against Northampton Town, Exeter sit in sixth in the League One table, seven points behind the leaders Milton Keynes Dons, who are of course managed by former Grecians boss Paul Tisdale.

But Taylor is more than aware of the danger fourthplaced Colchester will threaten – especially at home.

On Tuesday night City are at home against Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night.

Taylor said: “It’s going to be a tough test, Colchester are in food form and are above us in the table.

“They have been excellent, certainly in terms of their home games.

“It’s going to be a tough test, the journey aside, we have players coming back to fitness, so we should be stronger than we have been in the last couple of weeks and it should be a good game of football.

“I spoke to the lads and asked them who remembered last season where we were 3-0 down after 40 minutes and out of the game.

“We have to be right on our mettle right from minute one, but we have some good players coming back into the fold now, we showed glimpses last weekend of the attacking threat that we’ve got, and we need to show that on Saturday. But also, we have to be resolute because it’s a tough place to go.

“Hopefully the fans will make the journey, it’s such a long one, I think only Carlisle is longer than Colchester in terms of the distance travelled – but hopefully we can make it worthwhile.”