COLCHESTER United midfielder Courtney Senior has vowed to finish the season with a bang - and keep knocking on John McGreal’s door.

The 20-year-old made only his third appearance of the season in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, stepping off the bench before creating Sammie Szmodics’ late consolation goal at Adams Park.

Now he wants to put an injury-plagued spell behind him, continue to shine and keep impressing U’s head coach McGreal.

“I’m hoping I can have a strong finish to the season,” said the former Brentford youngster, who also had a loan spell at Wycombe in early 2015.

“When I first came to Colchester, I got a big injury and then another couple of injuries, so it’s been quite frustrating but hopefully I’m fully back now.

“As a substitute, all you can do is impact the game and I thought with the abilities I have like my pace, once I’m on the pitch I could make an impact.

“I just want to keep knocking on the manager’s door and if I’m a sub again, hopefully make an impression.

“It wasn’t a great result at the weekend but I reckon we can work on that.

“We’re not far off the play-off and automatic promotion places and we have hope.

“After the two losses, we’ll push on in training this week and go again on Saturday.”

Senior, who is out of contract in the summer, was making his first appearance for the first team for more than three months, since being a substitute in the Checkatrade Trophy defeat at home to Gillingham on October 3.

It was his first in the league since he scored on his U’s debut in a 5-1 romp against Forest Green, back in August.

“As I scored that goal on my debut, I got a little niggle which kept me out for three weeks,” he added.

“Then I came back, played a few under-23 games and then picked up another niggle which kept me out for another three weeks.

“When I did come back after that, the squad was quite big and the manager had to give other players minutes.

“I spoke to him last week and he’s got me back involved, because the loanees have gone.

“I really enjoyed being back with the boys and it was a really good feeling to be back out there again for the first team.

“It obviously wasn’t the result that we wanted but it was good to be back out on the pitch with the lads.

“I got a good 20 to 25 minutes under my belt and it was good to get an assist, as well.”