"The spell at Cheltenham has given me a great deal of confidence and I know I can make it as a Colchester player now," he told the East Anglian Daily Times.

"I had a great time at Cheltenham, but I want to play at the highest possible level and I think I am good enough for Colchester."

"The gaffer leaving has been particularly hard for me because he had just been telling me that I would be in the team next season. Everything was really positive, but these things happen in football, he's gone now and I've just got to try and impress whoever comes in.

"I felt I was just hitting my stride as the season ended and now I just can't wait to get back to pre-season and hit the ground running."