NEW signing Brandon Comley says the lure of first-team football made it an easy decision to join Colchester United.

The 21-year-old has signed from Championship club Queens Park Rangers and will stay at the Weston Homes Community Stadium until January.

It is his third loan spell, having previously spent time with Carlisle United and Grimsby Town.

And he believes the chance to play regular men’s football will make him a better player in the long run, as opposed to the “tippy tappy” nature of under-23 games.

“I know it’s going to be tough for me to get into the team at QPR,” said Comley.

“It’s quite congested in the midfield there.

“They’ve brought players in and have to play them, because they’re on big wages, which means my opportunities have been limited.

“The gaffer has said he likes me, but that I might not be the guy to take the club back into the Premier League yet.

“However, coming here gives me the opportunity to keep developing and improving myself.

“I’ve got to learn and push forward and maybe then I can go back and show more of what I can do.

First-team football is the goal for everyone and that has to be my aim.

“This is what I really want to be doing, playing week in and week out and playing for three points.

“It stands you in good stead for the future.

“If you keep just playing under-23s football, where it’s all a bit tippy tappy and people aren’t going in for tackles because it’s not all about winning, it can become a bit repetitive. You sometimes lose a bit of that mentality.

“That’s something I really like to have so playing proper men’s football is perfect for me.

“When my agent asked if I’d like to come here, I said ‘definitely’.

“There were no two ways about it and the team have got a bit of a buzz about them, after last week’s result.

“It’s a perfect environment for me to come into.”

In his time with Carlisle, Comley - an English-born Montserratian - played 13 times for the Cumbrians in their chase for the play-offs in the 2015/16 campaign.

He returned to Rangers in the summer, before heading out to Grimsby in 2016/17.

He played 36 times in League Two last season - a stint that included the 1-0 win over the U’s in February at Blundell Park.

“Even in that game I could see the way Colchester wanted to play,” he said.

“It was one of our toughest games and we did well to get the win.

“Now I’m delighted to be a Colchester player. I really enjoyed my first training session yesterday morning.

“It was quick and intense, which is better than having one that’s slower in terms of tempo. Then you can get a bit lost in the session.

“I just want to get stuck in and involved straightaway, to get minutes under my belt.

“If I’ve got to wait to try and break my way into the team, I’ll definitely be doing my best to do that.

“But if I’m starting, I’ll give the team and gaffer everything I’ve got. I’ll give 100%.

“I just want to play football and do well for the club, to see how far we can go.”

Comley sees himself as a defensive midfielder but believes he has plenty to offer going forward, too.

“I’d say I’m more of a defensive midfielder but I wouldn’t say I’m completely defensive-minded,” he said.

“I like to play and dribble sometimes.

“I can do the other side too and that’s how I like to brand myself.

“When it comes to the nitty gritty, I don’t mind getting my hands dirty and I like to think of myself as a player that can mix it up.

“First and foremost, I love winning the ball and pressing but I can do the other side, too.

“I can play nice football when it needs to be played.”