COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal believes it is beneficial that his side boast a variety of regular scorers, this season.

A total of 13 different players have hit the net for the U’s so far, contributing to their impressive overall tally of 44 goals in League Two.

Only Lincoln City, Bury and Carlisle United have scored more times than Colchester so far in the fourth tier, with leading scorer Sammie Szmodics (eight), Luke Norris (seven), Harry Pell (six) and Courtney Senior (five) netting 26 of their goals.

McGreal says the trend is similar to his first season in charge, where Chris Porter (16), Kurtis Guthrie (12) and Brennan Dickenson (12) ended up with 40 goals between them.

McGreal said: “It’s great to have three or four players nearly approaching double figures amongst them.

“I think that happened in the first year I was here, with the likes of Brennan Dickenson, Kurtis Guthrie and Chris Porter.

“I think there was three or four of them who all hit double figures and we’re nearly getting to that, so that’s credit to the players.

“It just keeps everyone bubbling, knowing that the goals can come from all over the pitch.

“Harry Pell has got seven goals in league and cup and he’s competition for the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Luke Norris.

“The likes of Courtney Senior and Frank Nouble are also chipping in so there’s competition and that’s great.

“I’ve said that from early on in the season - rather than being reliant on the two strikers we want the goals to come from all over the pitch and we’ve been able to do that.

“We’d have loved to have had that 20-goal striker.

“You think of Luke (Norris) had he been fit, who’s missed a lot of football for us.

“He scored early on in the season, got injured and we were thinking he could be the one.

“Frank (Nouble) is similar – he seems to score his goals from the wing.

“Mika (Mandron) has come back into it really hit good form at the moment, not only his goals but his performances and that's reignited Sammie, who has come back into the fold again and got on the goal trail."

Meanwhile, McGreal believes the rapid way Colchester have been starting games this season has helped give them the belief to go out and win matches.

The U’s scored twice in the opening half hour against Mansfield Town last weekend but went on to lose 3-2, after the Stags staged a second-half revival.

Nevertheless, no League Two team has scored more first-half goals this season than Colchester, who have hit the net 25 times in the first period.

“Every other manager wants a good start in a game,” added McGreal.

“It’s a good stat to have and it gives you that belief that we do try and start games well – it’s just continuing to do that.

“We don’t change in the second half or try and sit off and this, that and the other.

“We try and play games on how it’s going and how the result is at that time.

“We try and adapt different shapes whether we’re winning or losing, all to try and win games of football.

“If we’ve got those starts and the stats prove it, it’ll be great to continue it between now and the end of the season.

“It gives you that platform really and then the opposition have to come out at you.”