Colchester United seem to have unearthed a “scoring sensation,” in Macauley Bonne.

Fresh from the Academy, front-runner Bonne has already bagged two goals in just four senior appearances, and three of them were as a substitute.

The spate of injuries to Joe Dunne’s first team squad, which have struck down the likes of Sanchez Watt, Freddie Sears, Gavin Massey, Jabo Ibehre, David Wright. Josh Thompson and Drey Wright, have meant that several members of the Academy and under-21 development squads have been brought into the senior set-up.

None have made a bigger impact than Bonne.

“Macca Bonne was brilliant again,” enthused Dunne, with reference to the 18-year-old’s full debut against Sheffield United last Saturday.

“We’ve found a scoring sensation. He is making a little bit of a name for himself.

“I started with two of them up front (Bonne and Clinton Morrison), because I thought we could score goals.

“I then moved Macca about after that, asking him to play on the right because I thought he could get in at the back post, as he’s a natural goalscorer.

“And that’s just what he did,” added Dunne.

Bonne had marked his home debut with a spectacular headed winner, in the U’s 1-0 victory over Peterborough United 17 days ago. It was a great way to celebrate his 18th birthday.

He had made his senior debut just four days previously, in a 1-1 midweek draw at Shrewsbury, and also featured as a substitute in a 2-2 draw at Rotherham before endearing himself to U’s fans with a sweet header in the 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

In fact, it has been a fairytale rise to fame for Bonne, who was born in Ipswich and actually played for Ipswich Town from under-eight through to under-14 level.

After a brief stay at Norwich, Bonne settled with the U’s and was averaging close to a goal-a-game for the under-18s, before his elevation to the first team.