Frankie Kent has followed in the footsteps of fellow defender Tom Eastman, and attacker Gavin Massey, by this afternoon signing a new contract at Colchester United.

Promising teenager Kent, who has broken into the U’s first team this season, following Magnus Okuonghae’s lengthy four-match suspension, has signed a new contract which will keep him at the U’s for the next three-and-a-half-years.

His current contract was set to expire next summer, but now centre-half Kent has signed for a further three years.

“I’m really pleased. It’s been such a long journey for me,” explained Kent this lunchtime.

“To get to where I am now, has required a lot of hard work, and of course that hard work does not end here.

“I just hope that I can keep up my form. At the moment, I feel really comfortable playing.

“I’ve grown into it,” added Kent, an Academy product.