INVINCIBLE is a word Andy King hopes Town fans have swiftly dropped from their vocabulary after his side were comprehensively conquered by a young Manchester United side.

It is nothing to do with a certain Australian striker - rather a desire for supporters to focus on reality.

A 4-1 drubbing at the County Ground disappointed King but he felt it sent out a powerful message that success this year cannot be taken for granted.

He said: "It's good for people to realise early on that we are not invincible. I knew that anyway but maybe this result will have brought a few people back down to earth."

King was left salivating about the performance of United's young stars and while he would love to acquire some of them to aid Town's Division Two campaign, he knows that removing talented young players from a glittering team unit is no guarantee of success.

King feels the Manchester United 'universe' is a world away from a cold night in Colchester.

He said: "Maybe the answer is for me to buy the whole United youth team.

"To take individuals out of that unit and drop them into Division Two will be a huge shock to them.

"It's within their own 'world' that they're different class.

"The great players in a side will move on and excel elsewhere but take other players out of a great team unit and you never hear from them again.

"We've all seen it happen."

However, there is nothing to suggest that King will not at least talk to United reserve team boss (and his great friend) Ricky Sbragia about certain individuals who excelled for the Old Trafford side last night.

Chris Eagles and Neil Wood were shining lights for United.

He said: "I'm no fool. There were some good players out there and the first thing to check is whether people are available.

"I have to be careful and make sure the year-long loans I go for are the right ones.

"This defeat has dampened what has been a good pre-season but again, as I have stressed, playing Manchester United's youngsters is not a guide to how we will fare in Division Two."

Town's reserves complete their pre-season preparations tonight when they travel to face Wantage.

It is the second game in three days for Alan Reeves' men following a 1-1 draw at Cirencester on Monday.