Colchester are enduring a difficult spell in League Two and are without a victory in nine matches, with the Cowley brothers attempting to arrest their side’s run of form.

But Pulis, one of the most experienced English managers of his generation, believes the pair have been in football long enough to know exactly what is required to improve the U’s fortunes.

Speaking to CasinoHawks, former Stoke City and West Brom boss Pulis said: “The Cowley brothers have been around, they know the score, and they know what's needed.

“It's all about players. If they were speaking to me, they'd be saying, ‘We need this, if we could get that, we'd be a better team.’

“All managers say the same, the ones at the top of the table ask for a little bit more, and the ones at the bottom demand a little bit more!”

Pulis’ comments point towards recruitment and the make-up of the squad as important ingredients in Colchester’s attempts to progress.

United - Colchester United management duo Danny Cowley (left) and Nicky Cowley (Image: Richard Blaxall)

Danny and Nicky arrived at the U’s with considerable managerial experience behind them and are now attempting to find a way through a challenging sequence of results, after two successive seasons of pushing for the play-offs.

Colchester head into their home clash with Walsall this weekend looking for the victory that could provide a much-needed change in momentum.

And Pulis remains confident that the Cowleys have the know-how to take the club in the right direction.

“I'm sure with them at the helm, they've got the experience to push the football club on,” he said.

“The stadium and the facilities behind the scenes are good, so it'd be lovely for them to be successful.”

Backing - former Stoke City and West Brom manager Tony Pulis (Image: PA Images)

Pulis’ backing might provide encouragement for the Cowleys as they look to turn around Colchester’s fortunes and get their League Two campaign moving in the right direction again.

For Danny and Nicky, the immediate priority will be finding a way to end the U’s winless sequence, but Pulis clearly feels they possess the experience needed to come through a testing period.