It had been a hectic 24 hours for Matt Taylor, from the moment that he signed for Colchester United late on Friday evening.

Taylor put pen to paper on a one-month loan package, from Bradford City, having ironically travelled down south with his Bantam team-mates.

But while Phil Parkinson’s Bradford went on to record a 1-0 win at Gillingham, centre-half Taylor linked up with his new team-mates just hours before helping to secure a hard-earned 1-1 home draw against Crawley Town.

Taylor had actually arrived at the Weston Homes Community Stadium wearing a Bradford City tracksuit, and ironically he was set to be reunited with the Bantams for the return journey to Yorkshire on Saturday night, clad in his new Colchester tracksuit!

“I’m soon off to get a lift to the M25, so I can then jump back on the Bradford team-coach,” revealed Taylor, following his impressive debut against the Red Devils.

“And I think that I’ll be keeping this Colchester tracksuit on.

“The plan is to get back up to Bradford, fetch my car and get together a few belongings – basically a month’s supply of clothes in a suitcase.

“I’ll then be coming back down for training at Colchester on Monday and Tuesday.”

Chorley-born Taylor, 31, who actually started his career as a goalkeeper, is now very much a centre-half.

But he did well to last the pace on Saturday, because his only other full 90 minutes of action this season had been a 5-0 defeat at Hartlepool in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

He certainly relished playing alongside Magnus Okuonghae, in the heart of the U’s defence.

“Magnus is a top player at this level. He has been for the last few years,” enthused Taylor.

“It’s good to play alongside Magnus. He’s an absolute monster of a man.

“It’s a bonus to have someone like him alongside.

“Colchester have done well to hold onto him in the past, and hopefully we can form a good partnership.

“I’m looking forward to playing him with further.”

The U’s next match is away at Bristol City on Saturday.