AARON Collins says he took it as a compliment that Colchester United wanted to sign him so early in the summer.

The 21-year-old attacker is hoping to nail down a starting spot in John McGreal’s starting line-up for the new League Two season, after joining them on a season-long loan from Premier League new boys Wolves at the start of last month.

Collins, who spent six months on loan at Newport County last season, is one of a host of new players to join Colchester, this summer.

Collins told the Daily Gazette: “The move was done early and I took that as a compliment.

“You don’t get many loans asked for at the end of the season.

“Clubs usually wait until the summer or the start of the next season.

“I took it as a compliment straight away and if any other options did come up, I think my agent and I were both very happy with going to a top League Two side in Colchester.

“It was good to get the move sorted on early in the summer, rather than go back to Wolves and then looking at my options.

“It was nice to know exactly what I was doing and go in from the start of pre-season on day one.

“There’s four or five new lads here and that’s made it easier to bond with everyone.

“We’re all being welcomed at the same time and I was happy to get it done early.

“I’d been looking forward to it all summer, as I signed early and I just couldn’t wait to get started.

“The lads have been great and have all been welcoming – the new lads seem to have settled in really easily.

“The manager has told us the goals for the new season and I think we all want the same thing, which is promotion.

“A lot of them believe that it’s a good squad and we’re here to really push for that.”

Despite his tender age, striker Collins has plenty of experience of playing in League Two.

The Newport-born youngster has had two spells in the division with Newport and also played in the fourth tier while on loan at Notts County, in the 2016-17 season.

“I was at Newport before I went to Wolves and I was at Notts County and then went back to Newport for six months on loan, last season,” added Collins.

“I made close to 50 appearances and I know what League Two is about – I know what I need to do as a player and as a striker and I’m used to that.

“Hopefully I’ll bring that here.”