Colchester United boss Ben Garner is still looking for the final pieces for his jigsaw before the transfer window closes next week.

U's sit at the foot of the League Two table without a point after losing their first three fixtures, following the postponement of their opening-day match with Swindon.

And they are set to visit 100 per cent leaders Gillingham this weekend in their last outing before transfer deadline day.

Garner knows what he wants before then, telling the club website: "I think we need three more into the group to get us where we need to be, but we've got a good core of experienced players.

"Unfortunately we haven't had all those available.

"It's great that Kels [Fiacre Kelleher] is back in full training and will be back in the squad this weekend, hopefully we can get John [Akinde] or Hops [Tom Hopper] or both of them into the squad this weekend.

"Then it puts us in a much better position in terms of the balance and blend of the squad.

"We know what we need to recruit, we're well aware of the missing ingredients and it's not like we're losing these games and we're at full strength and full tilt and we know exactly where we are and everyone is up to speed.

"We know where we are and what we need to add and there's a lot of improvement still to come."

U's snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last weekend, as MK Dons struck twice late on - including an injury-time winner - for a 3-2 success.

But Garner felt there was plenty to be happy with on the day and says the squad have been working hard this week to iron out certain elements.

"Some really positive elements to the game, some really strong performances, great opportunities to go 3 or 4-1 ahead which we didn't take," he added.

"Even the goals conceded, it wasn't waves of pressure and we were holding on, it was just moments.

"They're things we address and learn from and move forwards as a young group at the moment, with what we've been getting on the pitch, that lesson and experience is valuable.

"The only way to get that experience is to play and go through it and our job as a coaching staff is to support the players and help them understand why things happen and what they need to do in similar situations moving forward and as a group we'll be stronger now moving into the weekend."