TOM Lapslie has ambition to one day emulate the likes of fellow Colchester United academy products Sammie Szmodics and Frankie Kent and play at a higher level.

The combative midfielder says he would love to rise up the divisions with the U’s – and insists everyone at the club shares the same goal.

Lapslie has made 135 league and cup appearances for Colchester since making his debut in January 2015 and has seen his reputation rise accordingly, over the years.

The 23-year-old has seen his former U’s youth-team colleagues Szmodics, Kent and Kane Vincent-Young join Championship and League One clubs, this summer.

He admits he would also relish playing higher than League Two – but says he would love to achieve his career goals at Colchester.

Lapslie said: “Of course everyone wants to play at a higher level.

“I’d be lying to say that I don’t want to do that.

“I would love that to be with Colchester with who knows, perhaps a back-to-back promotion.

“Everyone’s ambitious to be at the highest level they can possibly be at.

“If you asked anyone in that changing room or the gaffer, I’m sure they would say the same thing - I’m sure the fans would say the same thing.

“Everyone here wants to be higher than League Two and you just have to push yourself to that limit.

“The time was right for those boys to move on and to be fair, they’ve done well so I wish them well for the season.

“For some people, League Two might be the highest level but you have to push yourself to find out.

“As a squad, we have to do that and hopefully, our limit is way beyond League Two.

“I’m hoping that we can have a successful year as a club and aim high."

Lapslie returned from a three-week injury absence in Colchester's 0-0 draw with Walsall, last weekend.

He had been sidelined with a quad injury but completed 90 minutes against the Saddlers – and says he is glad to be back.

“I don’t like missing games,” said Lapslie, who is currently Colchester’s second longest-serving player behind defender Tom Eastman.

“It’s been hugely frustrating but I’ve tried to limit the time that I’ve been out.

“It was very disappointing to miss as many games as I did but these things happen.

“Three weeks out is probably not too bad, considering the type of injury that I had.

“To be fair, the boys have been playing well so it’s been easier to cheer on the boys.

“You want the boys to win and it’s never the case that you want them to do badly, so that you can get back in.

“But it’s horrible to sit there and watch so when the opportunity came to return to training again, the first thing you want to do is get into the team.

“You just have to get back, train hard and hopefully get the opportunity to play.

“I’m just looking forward to games now and trying to stay fit for the rest of the season.”

Lapslie will be hoping to help Colchester continue their unbeaten run at fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers tomorrow.

He added: “Forest Green are a good side and they want to play – they’re never going to play long.

“We played well against them away from home last year and got a good result, winning 1-0.

“But we know what they did to us at our own place, so we owe them one for that really.

“We know what we’re up against – they do what they do well and they do win games.

“We just have to set up our shape well and go to win a game of football.”