Freddie Sears is leading the way with four goals in the bag already for Colchester United this season, from 11 league starts.

And that’s not a bad haul, considering that the U’s front-runner is not even match fit!

Sears has been hampered by a niggling groin injury during the last couple of months, but has forged on regardless.

His reward has been four goals, the latest a superb strike in the U’s 1-1 home draw against Walsall last weekend.

Fortunately, the former West Ham 23-year-old is gradually returning to full match-fitness, although the groin still tightens up during the later stages of each match.

He will be hoping for more goals, and less pain, in the U’s trip to Brentford today.

“I’m feeling good, but I’m trying to get fit at the minute because I’ve been struggling a little with the groin injury,” confirmed Sears.

“I’m still recovering from that, so I’m not yet 100%. But as soon as I get to that, I will be roasting it.

“I’ve had to tailor my training. I’ve been doing a lot of resting and working with the physio, training now-and-then at every opportunity.

“I’ve probably done every session, but after the sessions I’ve been going to the physio for icing.

“As everyone knows, there’s been a lot of injuries here, so the training has been toned down a little.

“In games at the moment, the injury is fine in the first half. But it’s more of a problem in the second half, because after you’ve had the 15-minute break, it kind of stiffens up a bit. I have tended to feel it towards the end of games, but it is easing off now.

“I’m not really playing through it, because it’s not pain. It’s just stiffness towards the end of games, and not having many midweek matches has certainly helped,” added Sears.

Sears has played in a variety of positions since his move to the U’s from Upton Park, on a three-year deal in the summer of 2012. He has patrolled both flanks, and also operated centrally both behind and in front of fellow front-man Jabo Ibehre.

A current tally of 13 goals from 66 league games (20 as a substitute) is a useful return, considering the variety of his roles.

“I’d like to get into double figures (for goals) this season, but you never know,” continued Sears.

“Last year I got injured, which stopped me getting there, so I don’t really set any targets.

“I feel that I’ve started well this season, scoring a few goals, but the most important thing is that the team starts winning some games now.

“We’re not far off. We’ve picked up a few good points, away from home especially. Hopefully, we will now get that win.

“We’ve done well in some tough away games, like at Bristol City, where perhaps playing on the counter-attack has suited us.

“At home, the onus is on yourself to attack teams, but away from home suits us better, where teams attack us and we hit them on the counter-attack.

“The current run (no wins in nine league games) does not really affect us. It’s not like last year’s nine defeats on the trot. This year we are picking up some good points,” added Sears.