GEORGE Porter may have joined a struggling club, on a downward spiral, but he is relishing the challenge at Colchester United.

Winger Porter completed a youth loan move from Burnley, for the rest of the season, just 24 hours before making his U’s debut in a 3-0 defeat at Crawley Town on New Year’s Day.

The 20-year-old came on as a 73rd minute substitute for Kem Izzet, shortly after the Red Devils had effectively sealed victory with their second goal.

It was the U’s seventh league defeat on the bounce, and their 10th defeat in the last 11 games, leaving them facing up to a relegation battle.

But Porter is looking forward to making a big impact at the Essex club, and he is hoping to make his second appearance at promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers this afternoon.

“There’s still a good mood in the camp, despite the bad run,” insisted Porter.

“We’re all going to stick together, and sort it out. Trust me, we will.

“The fact that I’ve come to a club in a relegation scrap is not a problem. We will just go about our business, because we shouldn’t be down here.

“And I have no qualms about dropping down a level, because I was playing in League One (for Leyton Orient) last season.

“This is a big chance for me. Colchester is a good club, but there is a lot of competition for places, especially in my position.”

Porter moved to Championship club Burnley last summer, from Leyton Orient, but was frustrated by an early injury and was then unable to break into the Clarets’ side.

Previous manager Eddie Howe’s return to Bournemouth further restricted his chances of breaking through into the first team, so instead he has opted for a change of scenery at Colchester.

“I only heard about the possible move last Sunday morning,” explained Porter.

“I got a phone call from my agent, saying – ‘be prepared to pack your bags, you are going back down to London.’

“That’s when I realised, and I came to train down at Colchester on Monday.

“Last year I was at Leyton Orient, and I played Colchester twice, home and away.

“I remember the game at Colchester (1-1 draw). It was one of my better performances, I’d like to think. I set up the equaliser (for Jimmy Smith) right at the end. I played all right that day.

“Eddie (Howe) took me to Burnley before the start of the season, but I had an injury on the open day, turning my ankle.

“I haven’t had much chance to play since.

“But I want to start playing games now, and I’d like to say that my pace is my strongest point.

“I’m quite athletic, but I’m also working on other aspects on my game. I also have a good throw in the bag as well, though no one has seen that.”

The U’s will be hoping to end their dismal run of seven straight defeats, at the Keepmoat Stadium today.

New recruit Dominic Samuel, signed on a month’s loan from Reading on Thursday, could make his U‘s debut. He is a front-runner.