NO-NONSENSE centre-back Chris Coyne thinks Colchester United can bounce back from their relegation woe - providing they can maintain a settled side.

The U's were able to field an unchanged team for only the eighth time this season against Leicester City last weekend.

Geraint Williams' squad has been ravaged by injuries throughout, with Coyne one of seven players to fill the centre-half berth for Colchester this season.

For the second successive week, the 29-year-old was outstanding alongside Matt Heath at the heart of the Colchester defence against Leicester.

He came within a whisker of helping his side claim another clean sheet.

And although it is now too late for the U's to remain in the Coca-Cola Championship, Coyne thinks it is essential they keep a settled side if they are to be a success in League One.

He told the Gazette: "It's very hard for a manager when he hasn't got that continuity in selection because of injuries.

"Centre-half is a position where you build continuity and not being able to do that has been difficult.

"But it's more about the second week of August now that we're looking towards.

"We will keep working hard and we won't stop doing that until the end of the season."