Colchester United midfielder Harry Pell's weekly Gazette column.

Back to league action

WE’RE back in league action on Saturday, having had a couple of weeks to refresh ourselves.

It’s time to concentrate on the league again and we know we can go second in the table with a win at Newport County.

But I’ve played against their manager Michael Flynn a couple of times in the past - he was a tough customer and that’s what he’s like as a manager.

I never liked playing against him, because I knew that I would have my hands full.

I’ve gone back to my old club Cheltenham and won earlier in the season and Nos has done the same against Swindon even though he got his injury in that game, so we’re all hoping Noubs can do the same this weekend and complete the hat-trick.

It’s something the three of us spoke about at the start of the season, after joining the club.

The lads said before those games that they wanted to win but especially for us and it will be the same for Noubs.

We know that when you play against your former club they’ll try and wind you up but I think Noubs will relish that situation.

It’ll be the same for Azza Collins and I’m sure he’ll also be hungry to do well.

I really urge the fans that come to Newport to get behind the team on Saturday, as they always do.

They turn out in their numbers to support us and we really appreciate that.

They play a massive part and you do see the same faces who are always there supporting us, so fair play to them.

I’m sure a lot of the fans might be talking about the injuries but with any successful side, it’s how they overcome those kind of issues that makes them a promotion-winning team.

There won’t be any team that goes through a whole season without any uphill battles like injuries and suspensions.

We need to roll up our sleeves and get on with it.

We have a job to do and the XI that goes out there will do their absolute best to get a positive result.

It’s disappointing for the players who are out and we look forward to getting them back.

But at the same time, it’s an opportunity for the other lads to show what they can do.

Cup defeats were tough to take

SO often this season, I’ve written in this column about positive results we’ve had.

It’s a shame to be talking after a defeat but I felt we gave a good account of ourselves in the Checkatrade Trophy, despite our defeat.

On another day, we could have come away with a result and I thought in the second half, we had the majority of the game and the chances.

I was pleased to score and that’s four goals for the season for me now.

I said at the start of the season that I wanted to reach double figures this season and that’s still my aim.

I can play the four, the eight or the ten role if necessary and I’d played a bit more advanced in the second half against Cambridge.

If the boss wants to use me a little more forward than that’s great and it’s all about the team.

There were positives to take, like Ollie Kensdale making his first-ever senior start for the club.

It’s what the club are built on and he’s another promising young prospect.

I thought he did really well at Cambridge and didn’t look out of place at all, so congratulations to him.

I got a knock to my knee which was a bit sore and I must admit, at the time I was thinking the worst.

But it’s 100 per cent bruising and it’ll be fine.

I don’t want to jinx it but I’ve been really fortunate to be injury free – it’s mechanics with some people, I think.

I thought we did well at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last weekend, despite the defeat.

They have a terrific League One team and I don’t think we let ourselves down at all.

For the first 25 to 30 minutes of the tie I thought we were excellent and we could have been 2-0 up.

We caused them a lot of problems and made them feel uncomfortable.

But we had the injuries and their goal changed the game and we had to go for an equaliser in the second half, which meant the game completely opened up.

I don’t think there was a massive gulf between the two sides.

Managerial merry-go-round is crazy

JOE Cole has decided to hang up his boots this week – he’s had a great career and was an unbelievable talent.

The trophies he’s won speak for themselves and I’m sure he’s starting to think about putting his feet up on a beach somewhere now.

Apparently he’s keen on going into coaching but in some ways, I’m not sure why he’d want to after what’s happened this week!

It really is a merry-go-round.

Harry Kewell has gone from his job at Notts County after just ten weeks – I think it’s crazy!

It’s simply not enough time – when a club makes a decision to appoint a manager, they have to give him at least a transfer window and owners seem so quick to pull the trigger.

I personally think they dismissed Kevin Nolan too quickly as well.

When we played them on the first day of the season, they looked a good side.

There’s been a few managerial changes recently, with my old boss Neal Ardley also going from AFC Wimbledon.

He brought me in from Hereford - the main objective was to stay up and we managed to do that.

Even though he’s gone from the role, he’ll still be held in high regard at the club and he’s been successful in getting them up to League One.

I don’t think he could have done any more than that and I’m sure he’ll get another good job, very soon.

No dishes for me

DID you hear about the referee who’s been suspended for deciding a Women’s Super League kick-off with a game of rock, paper, scissors instead of the usual coin toss?

If I’m captain in the future, I’d be up for a game of that!

My track record with it is pretty good at the training ground, where we regularly play it to decide who has to do the dishes and scrap the plates.

It usually ends up being Frankie Kent!

Harry can be king of the jungle

I CAN’T wait to see how Harry Redknapp gets on in the jungle.

I’ve backed him to win it and I think the public will fall in love with his personality in I’m A Celebrity and every footballer will be rooting for him.

I’ve heard there are some Arsenal fans planning on voting on him doing some of the Bushtucker trials and that doesn’t surprise me.

But I don’t think Harry will shy away from doing them and it’ll be nice to see him lift the lid on a few things while he’s in there.

I think it’ll be television gold!