BLUES boss Jim Magilton has welcomed his two new signings.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton has welcomed his two new signings.

Magilton said: “Richard is coming back at the right age. He's had loads of experience at two top class Premier League sides.

“He is coming back to a club which is as ambitious as he is. We think that we've got in place a structure now that can help us move forward.

“It's more a spiritual home for him. He had to come through the ranks here. He had to fight his way into the team. When he had done so he won his first England cap here.

“There's a lot of good memories for him here and I'm hoping he can reproduce the form that he showed when he left. I'm delighted to have him.”

Magilton believes Lisbie has the goals to get them up.

He said: “He has always played extremely well against us. I had watched him play a few times, but that performance put him in my mind that if there was a possibility that we could get him then I would probably go and pursue it.

“We've known about Kevin for a long time. He enjoyed a fantastic season last year albeit he was obviously disappointed to see Colchester go down.

“In someone like Kevin we've got a natural goalscorer. I feel that if we can create anywhere near the chances that Colchester created last year then he can go on and score goals for us.

“Last year will give him a huge fillip of confidence. Playing in a side who eventually got relegated but to score 17 goals speaks volumes for him.

“It speaks volumes for Colchester as an attacking force.

“We feel we have players in our team that can create chances. If we do create enough chances I'm absolutely positive that Kevin will score goals.”

Magilton is delighted to finally land the duo and feels both will be important pieces of his rebuilding.

He said: “Colchester and West Ham were looking for the best price respectively - you can't blame clubs for that.

“We've eventually got them and we feel that these two are part of the jigsaw that's going to help us push on.

“Hopefully they will add real competition to the squad.

We're confident that we can push on. We're trying to raise the bar and bring the right sort of players in.

“In both these cases I think we've got two lads who are very hungry or they wouldn't be here.

“We're going to give them a platform to go and play. We're hoping they're going to take it. It's been a long drawn out process.”