Courtney Senior is a player who oozes confidence, on and off the pitch, and that positive approach is having a big effect on his own and also Colchester United’s impressive start to the new season.
Even when Senior has been relegated to the bench, he has remained upbeat and determined to regard his place.
And the 20-year-old certainly played a key role in the U’s comfortable 3-1 victory over visiting Yeovil Town in midweek, a result which saw the Essex club leapfrog tomorrow’s hosts Stevenage into fourth spot in League Two.
Boro dropped to seventh following a narrow 1-0 reverse away at second-placed Exeter City.
“I’m pleased to be back in the starting XI. Once my chance comes along, I always try and take it,” enthused Senior, following yesterday’s training session at Florence Park, Tiptree.
Senior continued: “I hadn’t been in the team for a couple of weeks, so I knew that I had to work even harder in training to catch the gaffer’s eye and get back in the side.
“The gaffer (John McGreal) had said that I needed a break, and a breather, but me being me, I didn’t necessarily agree with him because I thought I didn’t need a break.
“However, the gaffer knows best, and I always try and affect a game when I come on as a substitute anyway.
“I made a good impact when I came on against Cambridge, and although I didn’t feature at all at Oldham (unused substitute in a 3-3 draw), I’ve been happy to be back in the starting line-up for the last couple of matches.
“I try to think positive, all the time. I always keep myself fit, and I’m always wanting to go on the attack, as a player.
“I’ve been mixing it up in games, by coming inside from a wide position, which was the gaffer suggested. I think I can cause some problems for defenders, by dragging them inside.
“And when we are playing our football, I think we are one of the best teams in the league,” added Senior.
Croydon-born Senior, who signed for the U’s in the summer of 2016, has already scored twice in eight league appearances this term, boosting his still fledgling career tally to six goals in 26 league games, despite missing the whole of his first season (2016-17) due to a serious knee injury.
The former Brentford Academy player has netted twice at the Jobserve Community Stadium this season, in the 2-0 win over Port Vale and then the 3-0 success over Joe Dunne’s Cambridge United.
“We have shown that we can bounce back after a defeat, 100%,” insisted Senior.
“We have only lost twice so far, and we have bounce back to win the next game on both occasions.
“We have no fear, especially away from home. We haven’t lost away (four draws and one win), although of course its still early doors.
“Our aim is to become even harder to beat, and a point on the road is always a good result.”
An impressive 10 different goalscorers have already found the net for the U’s, during the first couple of months of this season.
“We all seem to be getting in on the act,” said Senior.
“Easty (Tom Eastman) scored his first goal on Tuesday night (against Yeovil), while the lacks of Jacko (Ryan Jackson) and Frankie (Kent) have also scored among the defenders.
“It’s good that we are all getting on the scoresheet, and we’re also looking very dangerous from set pieces, which is important. The goals are coming from all over the pitch.
“This weekend is a big game, against a Stevenage side who are only a point behind us in the league. It’s very tight up there, with lots of teams so close together, right down to 16th spot,” added Senior, with reference to Port Vale, who are only five points off the fourth-placed U’s.
McGreal looks set to name an unchanged side at Broadhall Way, with Frankie Kent remaining on the sidelines with an ankle injury. His deputy, Eastman, hardly put a foot wrong against Yeovil, in addition to scoring the opening goal.
Leading scorer Luke Norris recovered from a swollen ankle to play on Tuesday night, and he will again lead the front-line.
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