Cameron James has belied his tender years to deliver impressive back-to-back displays during last week’s home wins over Wycombe and Hartlepool.

The 19-year-old defender showed no sign of nerves, when making his full senior debut against Wycombe last Tuesday evening.

He played a big role in the U’s keeping their first clean-sheet for eight games, in a 1-0 success over the Chairboys, having been selected in preference to Alex Wynter.

And James followed this up with another unruffled performance during Saturday’s 2-1 win over lowly Hartlepool.

Now James, having made his U’s debut on the final day of last season, as a 64th minute substitute against Rochdale, and having made his first start against Wycombe, is now looking forward to another landmark game tomorrow night, at Blundell Park.

The Chelmsford-born defender is in line to play the first senior away game of his career, against Grimsby Town – all five of his first-team appearances to date have been at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“If I’m selected, then I’m ready to do another job. I’m loving the challenge,” enthused James, following Saturday’s win over Hartlepool.

“I’m really enjoying it. I didn’t think I was going to get this chance so early in my career.

“But I’ve got a taste for it now, and I would like to continue this run in the team.

“I also got an assist for the second goal (pass for Kurtis Guthrie to run onto and earn the penalty, against Hartlepool), which I’m pleased with,” added a delighted James.

Although he is only 19, James has actually been with the Essex club for the last 10 years – he joined the U’s Academy at the age of nine.

Earmarked as a possible candidate to be a future mainstay of the U’s defence, James was rewarded with a new four-year contract before the start of this season.

The spate of injuries to centre-halves, ahead of him in the senior pecking order, has meant that James has suddenly been thrust into the League Two limelight.

And with Frankie Kent, Luke Prosser, Tom Eastman and Lloyd Doyley all out long-term, he could be set for a busy last couple of months of the campaign.