A NUMBER of clubs are showing interest in Colchester United striker Scott Vernon following his hat-trick in the Essex Senior Cup last night.

Stuart Watson

A NUMBER of clubs are showing interest in Colchester United striker Scott Vernon following his hat-trick in the Essex Senior Cup last night.

The 26-year-old scored three times as a U's XI beat Maldon Town 7-1 to set up a semi-final tie with Dagenham & Redbridge.

“There has been quite a bit of interest in Scott as you can imagine,” said U's boss Aidy Boothroyd this morning.

“Not only is Scott a good player but he's a good character. He's just unfortunate that there are players ahead of him in his position at the moment.”

Vernon - who joined the U's from Blackpool in the January transfer window of 2008 - started this season in fine form, scoring three goals before the end of August.

He featured three further times after Aidy Boothroyd took over in September, but has since slipped well down the pecking order following the return from injury of Steven Gillespie and the signing of Kayode Odejayi.

As a result, Vernon was loaned out to fellow League One club Gillingham last October, but that temporary switch was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury on his debut.

Last night's Essex Senior Cup match - a tie which had already been twice postponed - was Vernon's first match back. David Fox, Craig Arnott (2) and Michael Rafter scored Colchester's other goals as a strong 'reserve' side comfortably progressed.

Other players to feature who have plenty of first team experience included Mark Cousins, Danny Batth, Alan Maybury, Medy Elito and Simon Hackney.

The U's must now play their semi-final tie at Victoria Road by February 27.