STEVEN Gillespie is looking forward to finally fulfilling his true potential, under new manager John Ward.

STEVEN Gillespie is looking forward to finally fulfilling his true potential, under new manager John Ward.

Gillespie smashed Colchester United’s club transfer record when he signed from Cheltenham Town for �400,000 in the summer of 2008, but it has not gone according to plan over the intervening two years.

However, the U’s front-runner is confident that he can come good under Ward, who was appointed the new boss at the end of May following Aidy Boothroyd’s switch to Coventry City.

Gillespie confirmed his sharpness with a second-half brace in Wednesday night’s 5-0 win at Heybridge, and he will be on the look-out for more goals in another pre-season friendly at Maldon & Tiptree this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

“I’m looking forward to the new season, because I haven’t had the best of times at Colchester,” confessed Gillespie.

“Last season was nothing to do with fitness, or anything like that, I was just not getting picked.

“In the first year I struggled with fitness, but last year I stayed fit. I never missed a day’s training, but unfortunately I wasn’t the new manager’s (Boothroyd’s) type of player, and so didn’t get in his team selection.

“I’m looking forward to forcing my way into the team and staying in it this season. I want to score goals, which is what I’ve always done,” added Gillespie.