Colchester United striker Kurtis Guthrie says he is confident he will be fit for the start of the new League Two campaign.

Guthrie is yet to feature for the U’s in pre-season so far after undergoing ankle surgery last season and will not be involved in their home friendly against a West Ham United XI at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

But the 24-year-old, who netted 12 times for Colchester last season, is nevertheless optimistic he will be ready for their curtain-raiser at his former club Accrington Stanley, on August 5.

Guthrie told the Daily Gazette: “I think I’ll be ready for the Accrington game.

“Hopefully, I’ll be back out there and I’ll be able to continue doing the job of scoring goals.

“I’ve got a little bit more strengthening work to do but it shouldn’t be a problem.

“I’m not really targeting any friendlies – I’m just focusing on being fully fit for the first game of the season.

“It’s not something that I’m overly worried about and it takes everybody between two and five games to get going and start the season anyway, so I shouldn’t be behind.

“The recovery has gone well – there have been a few hiccups here and there but nothing unexpected.

“I’ll just continue to work hard and hopefully come out of the other stronger.”

Meanwhile, Guthrie says he is delighted to receive the official backing of Colchester fans, after a group of the club’s fanbase clubbed together to sponsor him for the season.

Guthrie admits he has not always seen eye to eye with all U’s supporters in the past – but says he is delighted to have their support heading into the new campaign.

Guthrie said: “It’s great and I’m really glad to be sponsored by the fans.

“I won’t always get on with the fans and they won’t always like me!

“But I’ll always continue to be myself and it’s nice to know that I’ve been accepted for that – it’s pleasing.”

Long-time U’s supporter Jason Epsom, who founded a popular U’s Facebook group fan site in 2015, says more than 50 of the club’s supporters clubbed together to sponsor Guthrie.

He said: “We went for Kurtis Guthrie as he spoke his mind and like us fans, showed he wanted more and was no brainer.

“He will if fit be our top goalscorer and is a good player and he showed passion and that he cared.

“It was fantastic to see him and shake his hand at the Open Day and he acknowledged us.

“The group as a whole is very happy to be seeing him next season and hoping that with his goals and emotion the U’s will be up there competing for promotion.

“There were a few fans who live in Spain and other ends of country got involved as they can’t get to games but wanted to show they appreciated the efforts of team.”