Colchester United manager John Ward has admitted the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s team selection rules leave him baffled.

The U’s boss will be restricted by the competition’s guidelines when he picks his team for tonight’s first-round south section tie with League Two club Barnet.

Colchester must include in their starting side at least six players who started the previous game - or at least six players out of 11 who have made the most starting appearances in league and cup matches this season.

The rules are in place to prevent the competition from being undermined by managers playing second-string sides.

Clubs face the prospect of being hit with a heavy fine if they flout the criteria.

Ward will consult Colchester United football secretary Caroline Pugh on the exact rules on team selection, prior to picking his side for the visit of the Bees.

But he conceded that he is not entirely comfortable with the restrictions that are in place, for the competition.

Ward said: “I know I have to pick six of my team who have played all of the game (against Oldham) as a minimum.

“It’s either six who have made the most appearances (in the season) or six who have started (against Oldham).

“I don’t know if that includes the subs I’ve put on or not.

“I need to check all of those things out with Caroline the club secretary about what I can and can’t do, because it confuses me a bit.

“It’s weird that there’s somebody telling you who to pick and what you have to do but that’s the rule of the competition.”

Tonight's first-round tie kicks off at the earlier time of 7.30pm.

For more on this story and a full preview of the U's game with Barnet, see Tuesday's Gazette.