Jamie Harney is working hard to become the next young starlet to break into Colchester United’s senior ranks.

The 18-year-old Northern Ireland Under-21 central defender is currently with the U’s on a youth loan from West Ham until January but has signed a deal that will keep him at the Weston Homes Community Stadium beyond that until the end of the 2015/16 season.

He admits it was an easy choice to join Colchester with their policy of advancing younger players into their senior side and is eager to take that step himself, however, he knows he will have to wait until bosses Tony Humes and Richard Hall feel he is ready.

See today's paper for the full version of this story