COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal says his side's league and cup heroics are giving him a welcome selection headache.

The U's are on the cusp of the League Two play-offs after Saturday's hard-earned 1-1 draw at promotion rivals Cheltenham Town.

They are also into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they face Manchester United on December 18, and still going strong in the Leasing.com Trophy.

McGreal says it is fantastic to see his side firing on three fronts - but admits it is proving a conundrum in terms of picking his team.

“It was a tough choice," he said, referring to his starting line-up at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

“The hardest thing at the minute is leaving boys out of the squad.

“I'm having to learn to deal with it, because everyone is training to a really high level.

“You can’t pick everyone and the boys who aren’t getting into the squad are disappointed but it’s about keeping that harmony, unity and togetherness because we need everyone, as we proved when we played Ipswich the other week (in the Leasing.com Trophy)."

McGreal was delighted to glean a hard-earned point at Cheltenham.

Luke Norris gave them a first-half lead but the hosts equalised from the penalty spot.

U’s winger Courtney Senior gave the home defence problems but missed a glorious chance to secure three points.

“Courtney is learning his trade and we’ve got to realise this," added McGreal.

“He’s had a cruciate (injury) a number of years ago and he’s come back and hit good numbers.

“At times, he’s unplayable and you’re never going to catch him as he proved in the first half.

“Normally he slots those chances away but he has to improve when he’s continuing to get the ball and that will come with experience.

“He’s only 22 years old and getting close to 100 appearances so credit to him.

“He’s willing to learn – that’s the main thing and he’s going to make mistakes.

“But you know what, we won’t be getting on his back – we’ll be saying to him ‘go and get the ball again’ and that’s how we try and develop that.

“Courtney’s been brilliant for us, when you think about what he did at Mansfield and against Newport of late, and you can bet your money he’ll be there again to try and get the ball into the net, because he’s a willing learner."

McGreal was more than happy to put another point on the board at Cheltenham.

“If you can get your points away from home, that’s great," said the U's boss.

“We’ve been fortunate to have good performances away from home and got the wins.

“But this is a great point away from home and now we go into our home game against Salford, in a couple of weeks."