Colchester United boss, Tony Humes, was delighted with the performance of Elliott Hewitt on his U’s debut against Gillingham on Tuesday night.

Recruited just 24 hours earlier, on a one-month loan deal from Ipswich Town, Hewitt played the full 90 minutes at right-back against the Gills, in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie.

The matched ended in a 3-3 draw, only for the U’s to lose the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

But Hewitt served up a man-of-the-match performance, and will now be looking to build on that display with his first league appearance for the U’s, at home to Fleetwood Town this Saturday.

Humes enthused: “Elliott (Hewitt) played ever so well. I’m delighted with the way he has already fitted into the squad.

“It’s good for him to get first team, senior football.

“And everybody could see (on Tuesday night) why we brought him in,” added Humes.

The versatile Hewitt, a 20-year-old Welshman, started his career at Macclesfield before signing for Ipswich in the summer of 2012.

He has so far made 14 league appearances for Town, the last as a substitute in the 2-0 home win over Rotherham on September 27.