Freddie Sears is ready to start a match again, but he faces stiff competition to regain his starting berth.

Sears impressed following his introduction as a 64th minute substitute during Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Port Vale.

Colchester United’s talented front-runner enjoyed his longest run-out for more than three months, following a big struggle to overcome a damaged hamstring.

The 24-year-old, who confessed that he could have bagged at least a hat-trick at Vale Park – he had chances galore – would love to be given the nod from that start at Swindon Town this evening.

But he knows that he faces a fight on his hands.

“There’s six of us all going for three places,” admitted Sears.

“There’s good competition. Everyone has been doing well and now it’s about doing it on the pitch and staying in the team.

“It was an annoying and frustrating previous 24 days (four postponements before the Port Vale outing), as well as not being able to train on the grass.

“I thought we were a bit rusty at Port Vale, but now is time for us to push on.

“We’ve got a busy schedule coming up, and we have to pick up points, otherwise we’ll start looking down the table rather than up.

“We still want to be in the top 10 come the end of the season.”

Clinton Morrison, Sanchez Watt and Dominic Vose were the attacking trio to start at Port Vale, while Jabo Ibehre, Sears and Gavin Massey all came on as second-half substitutes.

That makes six attackers vying for three places – while fellow front-runner, Macauley Bonne, was not even on the bench in the Potteries.

Manager Joe Dunne could well make a few changes, with today’s trip to Wiltshire coming just three days after the defeat at Vale.

Sears and Ibehre would perhaps be the favourites to return to the starting XI, after both peppered the target on Tuesday night.

“Friday is a big game for us,” continued Sears.

“We got the cobwebs out of our system at Port Vale, after three weeks off, which wasn’t easy.

“We will go to Swindon with confidence, because we can take a lot of positives out of the Port Vale game, apart from the result.

“I myself could have had a hat-trick,

“Perhaps I’m being a little harsh on myself, but I should have done better on some of them, and I could sometimes do better on those that weren’t so close as well.

“But I was just happy to be running out there, injury-free, getting chances. I’m happy to be back, with about 30 minutes of game-time. It’s more match fitness.

“I’m feeling good at the minute and I’m just desperate to play on Friday.

“I had a lot of shots against Port Vale. There were a few good saves and a few just went wide. I just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

“I guess it was not going to be our, night, but now we’re all getting ready for Friday.”

Sears has scored five goals this season despite a so-far truncated campaign.