Colchester United manager Joe Dunne admits he is frustrated that he has lost two key loan players to injury.
Arsenal pair Craig Eastmond and Sanchez Watt have both had to return to their parent club recently with the former unlikely to return after breaking his metatarsal in training on Friday.
"We've lost Craig for good," said Dunne following the 2-0 home loss to Oldham Athletic on the weekend.
"He's fractured a metatarsal. He twisted his foot in the ground at the very end of training.
"Craig's out for six weeks so he goes back to Arsenal.
"As I said to the players at half-time - are we really just those three loan signings (Eastmond, Watt and Jabo Ibehre) team?
"Is that what we are, just a Craig Eastmond type midfield and a Sanchez Watt type attack?
"It shouldn't come to that. It shouldn't just be down to three players to come in and shake up a whole system.
"But it really does look like that now, doesn't it?"
Midfielder Eastmond had made 12 League One appearances for the U's, scoring twice, whilst attacker Watt is back with the Gunners because of a hamstring strain after also netting twice in six outings.
