Luke Prosser is determined to make up for lost time, during the last 18 games of this season.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sammie Szmodics celebrates his goal at Wycombe Wanderers. Picture PagepixSammie Szmodics celebrates his goal at Wycombe Wanderers. Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

Colchester United centre-half Prosser finally made his return to competitive first-team action, after 14 months on the sidelines, as a 75th minute substitute during Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

The 29-year-old had not played since November 5, 2016, due to a serious knee injury, but he is now looking to help propel the U’s into the promotion frame.

“There’s so much to play for during the second half of the season,” enthused Prosser.

“I’ve got a lot to prove here at Colchester. I’ve come here and was named club captain. I wanted to be on my 60th or 70th game by now, but that obviously hasn’t been the case.

“I’d like to be involved in as many games and as many minutes, to hopefully earn myself a new contract here.

“I’ve had one or two little knock-backs, but it was just a case of getting over the surgery.

“That’s all behind me now, and I’m looking forward to the next few matches.”

The U’s are currently three points adrift of the League Two play-off zone, after being doubled by arch rivals Wycombe last weekend.

“It was a bad performance all round, but that happens sometimes,” admitted Prosser.

“We’ve had a poor run of results, but we’ve got the quality in the dressing room to put it right. We’ve just conceded too many goals during the last couple of games.

“I’m looking forward now, and I have a big part to play. I’m desperate to be involved.

“We are a young dressing room, but these lads have played a lot of games, so we have to dust ourselves down and prepare for Grimsby (at home) next week.

“If we win back to back games, then we will be up there again. It’s still early days yet.

“On a personal note, it was good to be back out there, but it was a poor performance.

“I felt good. I’m not going to lie, when you’ve just got 15 minutes you give it your all. I’m still blowing a little bit, but that’s going to be the case for a couple of weeks, getting back to match fitness. Seventy minutes is the most that I have had so far, so that match fitness should come with games, hopefully,” added Prosser.