Colchester United new boy, Blair Turgott, is looking to follow in the footsteps of one of his boyhood heroes, Freddie Sears.

Like Sears, 19-year-old Turgott has spent all his formative years at West Ham. And, like Sears, he is now looking to make a name for himself with the U’s.

Loan signing Turgott, who signed on a temporary one-month deal on November 28, is hoping to make his U’s debut at home to basement dwellers Notts County this afternoon.

Front-runner Sears is a definite non-starter – the ex-Hammer is not expected to return until the new year, due to a hamstring injury – but Turgott wants to make a similar impact to that achieved by Sears on his initial loan spell, back in 2012.

“I’ve always looked up to Freddie,” enthused Turgott, before his first U’s training session on Thursday morning.

“I’ve been at West Ham since the age of nine and, coming through the system, I saw Freddie make his debut.

“I was there for his debut, and saw him score and play in the first team. “Now I’d like to emulate him.

“Freddie has inspired me. “It’s always good to see one of the boys come through the youth team, like myself, to play for the first team and do it on a regular basis,” added Turgott.

Sears’ debut was indeed a memorable one. Introduced as a 75th minute substitute, in the Premier League at home to Blackburn Rovers on March 15, 2008, Sears bagged the winner just six minutes later in a 2-1 triumph.

Sears was 18 at the time – while Turgott, an interested spectator, had not even celebrated his 14th birthday!

Ironically, the injured Sears, who had an initial loan spell with the U’s in early 2012, before signing a permanent deal later in the year, will be in the stands watching Turgott today.

Winger Turgott should make his U’s debut, either from the start or from the substitutes’ bench.

“I’m looking to get underway and to get some first team experience,” enthused Turgott.

“The manager (Joe Dunne) has made me feel welcome, and he will speak to me even more when I get on the training pitch.

“I’m certainly ready to play this weekend, if selected, definitely.

“It’s always the time of year, around Christmas, when there are a lot of games, and it’s vital for the club to pick up a few points.

“A lot of the games are at home as well (three of the next four), which is good. It’s a very important period for the club.”

Bromley-born Turgott has still to make his senior debut for the Hammers, although he did play 11 games in league and cup for Bradford City last term.

He continued: “The loan spell at Bradford was my first loan. It was a good eye-opener for me, to know what League football was all about.

“Obviously Bradford were in League Two at the time, but they had a good Cup run that was well noted. It was something different, for me to play against men.

“Hopefully, I can push forward even more, in League One, which is a good progression for me. I want to show people I can go out there and play in League One.

“Everyone at West Ham told me I should benefit from my stay, and should thrive on it.

“I’ve been playing in the development squad, and in and around the first team, but not that much. “This is something I need to do, to be playing in the League, getting a feel for it.”