JUNIOR COMES OF AGE AT U'S

COLCHESTER United teenager Junior Tchamadeu has admitted he was “proud” to be the only player selected in the 2022-23 League Two Team of the Season from outside the top seven sides.

- Dave Flett

And the 19-year-old wingback is now determined to help the U’s challenge for those higher reaches next term.

Tchamadeu also walked away with the division’s Young Player of the Season award just 12 months after winning the Apprentice of the Season prize for English football’s fourth tier.

That recognition has come during campaigns in which the Essex outfit have largely found the going tough, lying fifth-bottom ahead of tomorrow’s final-day fixtures, having finished 15th last term.

Prior to last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Doncaster, though, Colchester had enjoyed an unbeaten run of eight games – the club’s longest sequence since January 2020 – and Tchamadeu is hopeful that he can combine individual honours with team success in 2023-24.

Grateful

“I’m so grateful and proud that my performances helping the team during a difficult season for us have been recognised,” he said. “It means so much to me.