Brandon Comley would jump at the chance to stay at Colchester United beyond next month.
Midfielder Comley, who signed on loan from QPR on transfer deadine day on August 31, has been a mainstay of the U’s team in recent weeks alongside skipper Tom Lapslie in the engine room.
In fact, the 22-year-old Londoner produced possibly his best performance in a U’s shirt, from 19 first-team appearances, during the 2-0 win at Crawley Town on Boxing Day.
Comley set up the U’s second goal for Sammie Szmodics in that fine victory in West Sussex, a result which lifted John McGreal’s men up to fifth in the League Two table.
Although his current loan deal, from QPR, expires on January 14, there is a strong chance that he will remain with Colchester for the rest of the campaign.
“I’d love to stay longer,” insisted Comley, following yesterday’s training session at Florence Park, Tiptree.
“But we don’t know what will happen yet. For the next few weeks I will be focusing everything on helping to win more games for Colchester United.
“I’m loving it here, and I certainly would not turn my nose up if Colchester wanted me to stay longer.
“I’d like to stay,” added Comley.
A superb run of just two defeats in 15 league matches has seen the U’s rise from just above the relegation zone to the middle of the play-off zone, just one point adrift of the last automatic promotion slot.
The Essex club actually lost their first four away games of the season, but since then they have been in terrific form on the road, losing just one of their last eight away fixtures.
There have been wins at Yeovil, Newport, Barnet, Swindon and Crawley, and draws at Coventry and Grimsby,
And they will be looking to extend that marvellous away record at lowly Chesterfield tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
“We are proving a very hard side to break down,” explained Comley.
- ‘We will have to get players out to get players in’ - John McGreal
“In fact, I think that other teams prefer to play us when we are at home, although we have been doing well at home as well.
“It’s a very enjoyable time at the moment, and we’ve just got to keep it going now.
“It’s always nice to be winning games, especially when you are up in the play-off positions. It’s a great feeling to be up there.
“Everyone is buzzing and the dressing room is a great place to be at the moment. We are all feeling very confident.
“It’s not really a surprise to me, how well we have done recently, because I could see the potential when I first came to the club, in terms of the training and in the quality of the players.
“I played against many of these players last season, when I was at Grimsby Town (on loan from QPR), so I knew how good they were and, being mostly younger lads, how much enthusiasm they had.
“The main thing when you are playing football is to enjoy it. I learnt that from a very early age.”
Even though the U’s have suffered just two defeats over the last three months, and are on the crest of a wave, Comley realises that much work still lies ahead if the U’s are to be end-of-season promotion contenders.
“We have not achieved anything yet,” admitted Comley.
“We have to keep focused on our main goal, which is to be in this sort of position come the end of the season. That has to be our outlook for every game, to stay up there all season.
“There must be no let-up. Chesterfield are down near the bottom but they are a very dangerous side. We cannot write anyone off.
“If you are not 100% on it, then you will get a shock, regardless of where the opposition happen to be in the league.
“Personally, I am happy with my own form at the moment. I’m playing all right just now, and I don’t think that I’ve actually had a bad spell since I have been at the club.
“I’ve already doubled my assists this season, because I only got one (for Grimsby) last season, and I already have two this year. That’s something I am working hard on, to add to my game and so improve me as a player.
“At Crawley, I saw that Sammie (Szmodics) had made a good run and I was confident that he was going to finish it. I knew that he would score.
“Even in training, Sammie has been banging them in for fun,” added Comley.
Comley should again partner Lapslie in central midfield, while leading scorer Szmodics will be looking to further add to his 12 goals for the season.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here