Josh Thompson has not made a league appearance for 15 months, because of injury, but he can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

Colchester United’s forgotten man – his last league outing was way back on April 6, 2013, against Leyton Orient – is fighting fit again and hoping to resume his career.

U’s boss Joe Dunne had told Thompson to go away and concentrate on getting fit again, at the close of last season, following a year-long struggle with an ankle injury.

A decision on whether he would be offered a new contract – his current deal expires this summer – would be made on assessing his return to the fold for the start of pre-season.

The ex-Stockport, Celtic and Portsmouth has done just that, working hard to get back into shape. As a result, he has been offered a new contract and is currently in negotiations ahead of the new campaign.

“I’m fully fit again. The ankle is fine,” confirmed Thompson.

“We have been in all last week, doing fitness tests, before proper training starts this week. I now feel that I’m as fit as all the other lads. I’m in good shape and I’m ready to hit the ground running.

“It’s been a difficult last year. I eventually had an operation on my ankle (ligament damage), and then six months later I needed another one to clear excess cartilage tissue.

“I then stayed behind at the club beyond the end of last season, for two or three weeks, to make sure that my ankle was medically healed, before working on my own personal programme over the summer,” added Thompson.

The 27-year-old has so far only made 17 league appearances for the U’s, since his permanent move from Pompey on an 18-month contract in January, 2013 – he had made five appearances during an earlier loan stay.

He ended his 2012-13 season a few weeks early, due to a minor hamstring injury, but suffered a far more serious ankle injury after making just one brief outing as a substitute last term, in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie away at Dagenham & Redbridge on September 3, 2013. The U’s lost that match 4-1.

“Every season brings its different challenges, and we will see what this one brings,” continued Thompson.

“But I have been offered a new contract and I am in the process of sorting something out at the moment.

“I just want to get back playing again,” added Thompson.

U’s boss Dunne confirmed: “Josh has been offered a new deal, as has David Wright.”

The U’s first team players report back for pre-season training today, at the club’s training headquarters at Florence Park, Tiptree.