LOUIS Dunne admits being promoted to first-team duty with Colchester United is a ‘massive positive’ following his injury comeback.

The talented 20-year-old was named among the U’s substitutes for their 3-0 win at Port Vale, last weekend.

It was another milestone moment for the Colchester-born attacker, following his nine-month lay-off after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in training, last January.

And although Dunne did not make it onto the pitch at Vale Park, the Republic of Ireland under-18 international was understandably delighted to be back in the fold.

Dunne told the Gazette: “It’s a nice feeling to be back involved with the first team.

“Being on the bench is a massive positive and going forward, hopefully I can kick on now.

“I didn’t get on the pitch but it doesn’t really matter.

“It’s great to just be involved with the boys and training with them and the intensity levels are through the roof.

“You can sense that there’s a real buzz around the place, at the moment.

“It’s been a long nine or ten months I was out for working with the physios.

“The boys have done fantastically over the season, so it’s great to be involved with a very good group.

“We’re just pushing for promotion and I’m buzzing to be back with the lads.”

Dunne was sidelined for much of 2018 but has been playing regularly for Colchester’s under-23 side since returning from his long-term injury, last October.

“For me, coming back it didn’t matter where I was playing or who I was playing for,” said Dunne, who made his senior Colchester debut in March, 2016.

“It’s just fantastic to be back out on the pitch again.

“It’s just been brilliant to be back out there playing for the under-23s.

“I felt like I’ve played well and got my fitness up.

“I feel like I’ve done alright in there and obviously the gaffer and Bally (Steve Ball) have seen that and got me over training with the first team.

“I’ve been in and around the squad and was part of the squad for the game at Newport (last November).

“That was only after a couple of games of being back so I was obviously a bit surprised – that accelerated my progression a little bit, managing to get back into the squad.”

Dunne was impressed by Colchester’s performance and result at Port Vale, where Harry Pell scored twice and Courtney Senior was also on target.

“The boys were fantastic, watching from the sidelines,” added Dunne, whose last senior U’s appearance came in a Football League Trophy game against Charlton Athletic in November, 2016.

“It was a really assured away performance and to cap it all off with three goals and a clean sheet was great.

“Dicko (Brennan Dickenson) made a block on the line near the end and Reg (Rene Gilmartin) made a great save, just before half-time.

“There was a passion to put the ball in the net and a passion to keep it out of our net, too.

“Pelle (Harry Pell) is in my position – he’s a player I’m looking at and seeing what I can learn from him.

“He scored two excellent goals especially the second one, which was a wonder strike.”