Elliot Lee is reported to be set to sign on loan to Colchester United, for a third time.

Front-runner Lee has already had two loan stints at the Essex club, while on the books of West Ham, and now the 22-year-old is poised to rejoin the U’s for a third time, from Barnsley.

Lee has struggled to make an impact with the Tykes in the Championship, and so instead will look to strengthen the U’s promotion bid from League Two.

Durham-born Lee played four league games for the U’s during his first loan spell from October, 2013, but had a much more productive time on his return last season, scoring a couple of goals in 15 league appearances from January, 2016.

Lee has only made three appearances for Barnsley in the Championship, all of them as a substitute, since his summer move from West Ham.

U’s manager John McGreal has already said that he would like to sign a striker, during the January transfer window, and Lee seems to fit the bill.