Edwards eager for starting chance with Colchester

Owura Edwards (left) celebrates his goal against Bromley with team-mate Lyle Taylor

Forward Owura Edwards is "ready to make up for lost time" after scoring his first goal since rejoining Colchester United in the summer of 2023.

The U's paid an undisclosed fee to Bristol City for the 23-year-old, who scored three goals in 13 games during a loan spell in the second half of the 2021-22 season.

All 11 league appearances since his return to the club have come from the bench and he is hoping that scoring in the 1-1 draw with Bromley will boost his chances of a starting spot.

"At the end of the day, the manager picks the team. All I can do is control what I can control, just keep working and keep improving myself," he told BBC Essex Sport.

"Last season was very frustrating for me but I've been working super hard in the off-season to get to where I am - I need to make up for lost time and I'm raring to go."

Edwards has played under three bosses since rejoining the U's, Ben Garner, Matty Etherington and now Danny Cowley, in part because of injury problems.

But he has already matched the seven games he played last season in the opening weeks of the new campaign, including a start against Reading in the EFL Cup, and is looking to push on.

He had only been on the pitch for six minutes against Bromley when he converted Jack Payne's cross to earn his side a point, having missed an earlier chance.

"That's my job, I try to come on and make an impact for the team," he said.

"What a ball from Jack Payne, it was right on the money. I just focus on the contact with ball in that moment and that's what I did."

Colchester are away to Morecambe on Saturday.