Colchester United’s precarious position, near the foot of League One, was never going to put off Alex Wynter from moving back to the Essex club.

And new recruit Wynter, snapped up on a permanent contract from Crystal Palace just a few hours before kick-off at Peterborough last Saturday, is confident that the U’s will soon be climbing away from trouble.

Versatile defender Wynter, who had a successful loan spell with the U’s from Palace at the end of last term, believes that Tony Humes’ men have enough quality, youthful talent and experience to avoid relegation over the next four months.

“I came here last year when we were in a similar position, so I had no qualms about coming back,” insisted Wynter.

“As you could see from the Peterborough game (2-0 away win), we shouldn’t be in this relegation battle.

“Once we start scoring more goals, we will be fine.

“I said last year that the team were too good to be in this position, and it’s the same now. I could tell already, and it’s the same again.

“We are pretty confident that we can push on, and get up the league.

“The win at Peterborough can only boost our confidence. It’s not been low morale in the camp, but every little win helps.”

The 21-year-old, who played 10 leagues games for Portsmouth during a loan spell earlier this season, is hoping for his career to really take off at Colchester.

And although most of the squad is made up of young players who are learning their game, like Wynter himself, the Croydon-born defender also highlights the experience running through the spine of the team.

“It’s a young group, but there’s still Kaspars (Gorkss) and Tom (Eastman) at the back, Sean (Clohessy) at right-back, and Foxy (David Fox) in the middle, so there is a good mix,” explained Wynter.

“And it’s some pedigree that Kaspars has got.

“I was looking at his career, and it’s unbelievable the number of high level clubs he has played for. Playing alongside him will only help my career.

“I am at an age now where I want to start kicking on.

“I need to get some games, to just build a career, and I think Colchester United is a great club to do this. I’m looking forward to the next 18 months.”

Even though Wynter had little hesitation in signing for the U’s, it was still a big wrench to leave a club he had been with since 2003.

“It’s a big move for me, because I had been at Crystal Palace since I was nine,” explained Wynter.

“I lived two minutes from Selhurst Park, and I have a lot of friends there. It’s where I learnt the game and it’s all I know.

“But I knew that this season might be the season for me to move on.

“I had to put my career first. I didn’t want to just be comfortable at Palace. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, after 12 years.

“It’s a move that coming to Colchester United, I’m comfortable with.”

The U’s entertain Walsall on Saturday, before hosting Leyton Orient the following weekend.