Brennan Dickenson says Colchester United are going all out for automatic promotion in League Two this season.

The U’s host Port Vale in their first home game of the campaign tomorrow, looking to build on their promising opening-day performance at Notts County.

Dickenson, who is now fully fit having recovered from last season’s injury problems, knows how they fare at the JobServe Community Stadium will be vital.

And the 25-year-old winger says they will be doing all they can to achieve a top-three finish.

Dickenson said: “Promotion is the main target for us, 100 per cent. We want top three minimum and everyone is confident we can achieve that.

“The recruitment the club has done has been great and it’s helped us to bring more balance to the team.

“The depth and strength we have to adapt to different situations is much better this year, I think.

“The new boys are great so far – they fit right in and they’ve brought new character to the team. I think they’ll help us to push on.

“Our home form is going to be crucial and it has to be back to the form we showed there in my first season here, where we had a long unbeaten run here.

“We have to make it a scary place for other teams to come and to feel threatened by the sort of playing style and players that we have.

“It’s our first home game of the season so we need to put on a show and get the three points.

“We have to be on the front foot and out of the traps first, nice and sharp.

“We need to do what we do best which is get the ball wide, get crosses into the box and score goals and keep the ball on the floor and play.”

Dickenson’s appearance in Colchester’s goal-less draw at Notts County last weekend was his first competitive game for more than four months.

After returning from a ten-month lay-off following a serious knee injury, a thigh injury saw him miss the final weeks of last season but now the former Brighton and Hove Albion winger is back and raring to go.

“On a personal note, I’m just happy to be back in the starting line-up and just providing what I can,” added Dickenson, who was Colchester’s player of the year in 2017.

“I want to be back to the form I was in during my first season here, for sure.

“But it does take time.

“I’m feeling better in myself and my knee feels strong so hopefully, I can get back to that level. I think it’s a case of match practice and confidence for me now.”