Boss believes in his young players ahead of Bristol trip.
Frankie is on standby for the Bristol game this weekend, with Magnus Okuonghae suspended after his midweek red card.
Joe has not been afraid to give youth a chance in the first team in his nearly two years in charge so far and has already given Sammie Szmodics game time in the midweek cup game at Charlton on Tuesday, along with having Jack Curtis and Frankie Kent on the bench.
Colchester United boss Joe Dunne has faith in his young players as the new season gets into full swing. "I have got great faith in my players here. That is getting tested already but that's not a bad thing.
"For example, on Tuesday night, we were happy to move Alex Gilbey back to centre back and he did a great job, as did Sammie when he came on.
And Joe said: "I have great confidence in my players.
"These players know what our system is and so it's not a gamble for me to include them.
The U's face a tough test this weekend as they go to Bristol City and a side that is hopeful of being in the promotion shake-up this season.
Ashton Gate is a always a vocal venue and boss Steve Cotterill has already called on his supporters to get right behind their side on Saturday.
And Joe added: "I think our players will thrive on that atmosphere and they should embrace and enjoy it.
"Bristol City is a fabulous club who get right behind their team and certainly let the away team know that they're there.
"If they do what I ask them to do, then the future of the club is in good hands with the young players coming through.
"If we need to make changes, they’re simple ones and nothing that changes the absolute structure of the team.
"Compared to last season, where we had injuries, the players are a year older and wiser, which puts us in a better position.
"We feel we need to stand up for ourselves a bit more and then we might start to get those breaks."
"We feel we need to stand up for ourselves a bit more and then we might start to get those breaks."
The U's face a tough test this weekend as they go to Bristol City and a side that is hopeful of being in the promotion shake-up this season.
Ashton Gate is a always a vocal venue and boss Steve Cotterill has already called on his supporters to get right behind their side on Saturday.
And Joe added: "I think our players will thrive on that atmosphere and they should embrace and enjoy it.
"Bristol City is a fabulous club who get right behind their team and certainly let the away team know that they're there.
"They’ve gone for it this season, Steve is a very good manager who knows what he wants and he has brought some stability back to the club.
"He’ll want to see the club progress upwards and we have to be in the way of that ambition on Saturday."
"He’ll want to see the club progress upwards and we have to be in the way of that ambition on Saturday."
The U's will wait on David Wright, Sanchez Watt and Craig Eastmond, who have all been out on the training pitches this week - full squad news to follow later on Friday.