To lose a player of the calibre and experience of Kaspars Gorkss would be a blow to any League One side, particularly with only three months of the season remaining.

But in producing a mature performance for Colchester United at Bradford City in difficult circumstances, Tom Eastman showed that he is capable of filling the gap left by the Latvia international.

Eastman has already had his fair share of central defensive partners this season having played alongside the likes of Gorkss, Magnus Okuonghae and Frankie Kent over the last six months.

The fact that the former Ipswich Town youngster has been a mainstay in the U’s starting line-up in that time, despite there being regular change at the heart of the defence, is testament to his ability as a defender.

Alex Wynter is the latest player to slot in alongside Eastman and both players did a sterling job in containing Bradford’s front pairing of James Hanson and Jon Stead.

Eastman will be particularly pleased with his performance, not least because he will no doubt recall a difficult evening playing against Hanson at the Weston Homes Community Stadium last season. On that occasion, Hanson scored in a 2-0 victory for the Bantams and gave the U’s defence – including Eastman - a torrid time.

That Eastman should contain Hanson so impressively this time around is perhaps evidence of how far he has progressed as a player.

Over more recent months, his advancement has no doubt been influenced by manager Tony Humes and his assistant Richard Hall, two brave centre-backs in their time who were never afraid to shirk a challenge.

At the age of 23, Eastman still has things to work on and improve upon.

It has not always been an easy season for Colchester’s back four this season, particularly given the injury problems they have suffered at centre-half.

And the fact that Humes will attempt to sign an experienced defender on loan to replace Gorkss is evidence that he still feels it is an area that needs strengthening.

Nevertheless, it has been a campaign where injuries and other factors have meant that Colchester’s back four has been far from constant.

And in Eastman, Colchester possess a player who is offering some much-needed stability and reliability at the heart of their defence.