COLCHESTER United manager John Ward has signed striker Freddie Sears on a month’s loan from West Ham United.

The U’s boss moved quickly to bolster his squad after Gavin Massey’s return to Watford.

And he has hailed the acquisition of Sears – who burst onto the scene in the Premier League for the Hammers and has represented England at Under-21 level – as a real coup.

The 22-year-old front man has a wealth of loan experience, having previously been out with Scunthorpe United, Coventry City and Crystal Palace at Championship level.

“With Gavin having gone back to Watford, we moved quickly to get Freddie in,” Ward told the club’s official website.

“A lot of work went in last night to get him here and he will meet us at Brentwood to join us on the coach to Yeovil.

“Freddie has been at different clubs in the Championship and has also played in the Premier League and we feel it is a bit of a coup to get him in and play for us.

“I spoke to him last night and he was very happy to come here. There was interest from elsewhere, but he has decided to come to us.”

The move continues a strong relationship between the two clubs, with Ward on the League Manager’s Association committee with Sam Allardyce and the U’s having faced the Hammers in reserve friendlies this season.

Subject to paperwork clearance, Sears will be available for the game at Yeovil tomorrow and his move will take in a total of eight fixtures during the course of the next month.