MARTIN Rowlands predicts a very bright future for Colchester United team-mate Anthony Wordsworth.

Central midfielder Rowlands has operated to good effect at a higher level in his career, at previous club QPR, and the 33-year-old is adamant that fellow midfield man Wordsworth will be a force in the Championship, at the very least.

Wordsworth celebrated his 10th goal of the season with an 82nd minute header in a 1-1 draw at Oldham on Tuesday night, an impressive haul for a midfielder before the start of March.

It was Rowlands who delivered the pinpoint free-kick for Wordsworth to convert from eight yards out.

Ex-U’s trainee Wordsworth attracted a bid from ambitious League One club Bournemouth in January, which was turned down, while Championship clubs have kept a close eye on him.

Rowlands is not surprised.

“Anthony is obviously a very good player,” explained Rowlands.

“I’ve only been here a month, but I’ve seen that he has great ability.

“You can tell that, and he’s in double figures for goals as well.

“He’s obviously a young lad, who has still got a lot to learn, as he will openly say himself.

“But he’s definitely got a good career ahead of him, and I definitely feel that he can play a lot higher,” added Rowlands.

The influential Rowlands delivered a man-of-the-match performance at Boundary Park, in what was his fourth appearance for the U’s since his arrival on a four-month deal in January.

He had been released by QPR.

Although his current deal expires this summer, which in fact applies to 15 of the U’s squad, it would be a surprise if manager John Ward does not offer him a new contract for next season.

Rowlands explained: “I’ve settled in well, I’ve got into the team and hopefully I can keep my place.

“I think I’ve made an impact, and I think I’ve done well, but I want to make an even greater impact over the last 15 games or so, as I get fitter.

“Hopefully I can play a big part, improve my fitness, and then wait and see what happens over the summer.”

The U’s team coach was held up in heavy traffic, during the short journey from the hotel to Boundary Park on Tuesday evening. John Ward’s men only arrived at the ground 40 minutes before kick-off.

But the frustrating hold-up, and the rather rushed warm-up, did not seen to affect the U’s.

“We had a traffic-affected journey from the hotel, but these things happen,” insisted Rowlands.

“It was frustrating being stuck on the bus, but you can’t do anything if there are parked cars ahead of you! You’ve just got to be patient.

“We got out quickly and did a shortened warm up, and I thought we did well to grind out a point in the end, which we were happy with.

“To have gone back with nothing would have been very harsh, I feel,” concluded Rowlands.