Colchester United correspondent Carl Marston reflects on Freddie Sears’ switch to Ipswich Town today, on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

East Anglian Daily Times: Freddie Sears salutes the U's fans after scoring for Colchester during the second half of the FA Cup third round tie at CardiffFreddie Sears salutes the U's fans after scoring for Colchester during the second half of the FA Cup third round tie at Cardiff (Image: PAGEPIX LTD 07976 935738)

Even though Freddie Sears will be going up a division, from the lower reaches of League One to the higher echelons of the Championship, I firmly believe that it won’t take him long to become a big hit at Portman Road.

The fact that Sears scored 14 goals during the first half of this season, in a STRUGGLING team (the U’s are stuck in the relegation zone), suggests that the 25-year-old will negotiate the step up to the Championship with relative ease.

Sears is a natural finisher, and a proven goalscorer, just the sort of striker option that Ipswich require to boost their promotion credentials.

In fact, a few goals from Sears, between now and the end of the season, could prove to be the final piece in the jigsaw for Mick McCarthy’s men, in their quest to reach the promised land of the Premier League.

As for the U’s, they will badly miss Sears’ quality up front, in the weeks and months ahead, there’s no doubt about that.

Cardiff City loanee Rhys Healey looks set for a run in the starting line-up.

Healey too is a natural goalscorer, but does not possess the all-round skills or experience of a Freddie Sears.

In short, I predict that Sears - unlike midfielder Anthony Wordsworth, who made the same move from the U’s to Town – will prove an inspired signing for Ipswich.

And hopefully, U’s boss Tony Humes will get some money to spend on a replacement, or two.