Colchester boss Geraint Williams is hopeful of having striker Clive Platt available for the trip to promotion-chasing Bristol City on Saturday.Former MK Dons hitman Platt, who has scored seven goals for the Us this season, missed last weekend's humbling 3-1 FA Cup defeat by another of his old clubs, Peterborough, due to a back injury.

"Clive is not ruled out yet. He has been having treatment on his back and has been responding well," said Williams.

Williams meanwhile has been backed by Micky Adams to guide Colchester out of the relegation zone after leaving his role as assistant manager at Layer Road.

Adams, who was brought in by Williams over the summer, has quit to pursue another role in management and leaves the Us languishing second from bottom of the Championship.

But the former Brighton, Fulham and Coventry boss is confident Williams will save them from the drop.

"People go on about last season with Colchester but it's a different squad and different players this time around," he told the Gazette.

"I have a lot more experience as a manager than 'George', and he's still a young manager - he needs as much experience alongside him as possible.

"He's a decent chap and I'm sure that Colchester will survive with him in charge."

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