Colchester United boss, John McGreal, was full of praise for Frank Nouble after the former Ipswich Town front-runner netted his first goal for his new club, in today’s 3-0 home win over Cambridge United.

“I’m made up that Frank (Nouble) has got his first goal for us,” enthused McGreal.

“He’s a quick boy, and it’s nice that we were able to get him in nice and early over the summer, because other clubs were after him as well.

“The fans have been very appreciative of all his performances for far. He’s worked so hard, but it’s always important for a striker to get his first goal.

“His strength is that he can play in a variety of positions, in the No. 9 or playing slightly further out wide, in the inside-right position,” added McGreal.

Nouble bagged the U’s second goal, on 35 minutes, after Sammie Szmodics had broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute. Substitute Courtney Senior plundered the third on 80 minutes.

McGreal continued: “I loved it, but I didn’t think the scoreline reflected how well Cambridge played in that first half.

- Match report of U’s 3-0 win over Cambridge

“I thought we were very fortunate to be 2-0 up at half-time. Brennan (Dickenson) kicked one off the line and Dillon (Barnes) made a couple of good saves.

“But overall I was delighted with out performance,” added McGreal.

Cambridge boss Joe Dunne, the former Colchester right-back and manager, admitted: “It’s the same for us every week at the moment.

“It’s the same errors and same mistakes, and the same chances and same misses.

“Colchester scored their first two goals when we were on top, but the difference is that they (Colchester) have such strong forwards, and you can also see that from the quality that they have to come on (off the bench).

“If their strikers can stay fit, then I think Colchester will be a threat this season.”