Colchester United’s new recruit, Sean Murray, is ready to embrace a “fresh challenge” at the play-off chasing U’s.

Midfield maestro Murray is set to make his U’s debut at Blackpool this afternoon, perhaps from the start because Owen Garvan remains troubled by a knee injury.

Ex-Watford stalwart Murray, who has rattled up exactly 100 league games so far in his career – and he is only aged 23 – arrived at the Essex club from Swindon Town on a free transfer on deadline day last Tuesday.

Murray has settled in well at his new home, and will look to hit the ground running at Bloomfield Road, after a few useful training sessions with his new teams-mates.

“It’s a fresh challenge for me,” enthused Murray, before the long journey north-westwards to the Lancashire coast.

“I’ve played regularly all season (for Swindon). I was playing each game at the start, but the games began to dry out more recently, so I’m glad to get away and start again.

“I think we (Colchester) can push towards the top five or six, we’ve definitely got a good chance.

“First of all, I have been amazed with all the training facilities here – they are fantastic for a League Two standard, certainly better than what I’ve known in League One.

“The manager and the staff have been brilliant, making me feel very welcome, and the quality of players here is clear for all to see.

“We can all work well together, and I think this is a good move for me.

“I’m ready to get going, because even when I wasn’t playing in the first team at Swindon, I would make sure that I was playing for the development side during the week.

“So I’ve managed to keep playing games every week, which has helped me to keep my match-sharpness. I was out of favour at Swindon, and every player wants to be playing.

“But I know that I will have to play well to get into the starting line-up and to stay there, because there are so many quality midfielders at the club.

“Me coming in should make everyone get better, and me better as well. I will have to work hard to keep my place,” added Murray, an ex-Republic of Ireland under-21 international.