CLINTON Morrison is catching up for lost time, both in terms of his current fitness and his overall career.

But Colchester United’s new striker, who signed a week ago and made his debut in a U’s shirt against West Ham last Saturday, is determined to prove that he is still hungry for success.

The 33-year-old goal poacher, who initially made a name for himself at his first club Crystal Palace, can’t wait to put two years of heart-ache behind him.

Morrison’s career ground to a halt at previous club Sheffield Wednesday, and a summer of inactivity has left him playing catch up.

No wonder, then, that joining up with his new team-mates for last week’s training camp in Holland was a shock to the system.

“Holland was hard work to be fair, when you’ve not run for three months!” admitted Morrison.

“I hadn’t trained for three months, so to do four days out there was tough.

“I’m not up to scratch where I want to be, but it will come.

“I had two training sessions a day, and when the boys played (against Vitesse Arnhem) I did another one with the fitness guy Dave (Carolan), so I’m working hard to catch up the boys.

“Obviously the boys are a week-and-a-half ahead of me, so it’s going to take time, but I will work hard and I’m not going to cut corners.

“Come August 18, that’s when I have to be fit, that’s when the big games come up,” added Morrison, with reference to the U’s first League One game of the season at Preston.

Morrison featured for an hour, during the U’s 2-1 defeat to Premier League new boys West Ham in Saturday’s pre-season friendly.

And it was enough time for him to be very impressed with his new team.

“That was the first time I had kicked a ball in two of three months, so it was good to get 60 minutes out there and have a good run-out,” continued Morrison.

“The team did well against West Ham. In fact, I’ve been very impressed since I’ve been here. The lads pass the ball well.

“That’s what the gaffer wants. He wants me to hold the ball up, get in the box and try to score goals. That suits my game perfectly, and I can’t wait to get fit.

“West Ham are a top, top team, and they only beat us 2-1. Not many League One teams would be able to cope with us, if we play like that.

“I think we’ve got a good chance this season.

“All the boys have impressed me, no one is hiding. Everyone wants to get on the ball, and the management work well with us, telling us to pass, pass, pass!

“When the season starts, that’s when it counts,” added Morrison.

Meanwhile, a young Colchester development side were soundly beaten 4-1 at Witham Town in last night’s pre-season friendly.

Right-back Jackson Ramm, a triallist formerly on the books of Blackburn, was on target in the second half for the U’s.