Mauro Bandeira has had a slow start to his loan spell with Colchester United, and uncertainty around the head coach position is unlikely to help.

Arsenal 19-year-old Mauro Bandeira initially seemed to break straight into the Colchester United team on loan with the League Two club, making starts in their first two games after his move.

But two and a half months later, those remain Bandeira’s only two league starts for Colchester.

The midfielder has made seven substitute appearances, as well as a couple of starts in the League Cup and the EFL Trophy, but recently he hasn’t been involved in the squad at all, with no official explanation given for his absence.

Colchester United’s managerial situation probably isn’t helping matters, after Ben Garner was sacked last weekend.

Scott Marshall took charge initially, before Matty Etherington was appointed as an interim head coach.

But contract issues forced Etherington to step back again ahead of this weekend’s game against Accrington Stanley, with Marshall continuing his spell in the position instead.

The good news for Colchester United fans is that they’ve won both games since Garner’s sacking. The bad news for Bandeira is that he wasn’t involved on either occasion.

It’s always a risk when you go on loan that a change in manager might hurt your minutes. With your short contract and no connection to the new boss, you may well find he looks to hand out minutes elsewhere.

Bandeira will have to hope he can convince whoever comes in that he’s the superior choice.