Greg Halford doesn't mind where he is playing when Colchester United take to the field - as long as he is playing.

Happy to be here - Greg Halford doesn't mind what position he's in as long as it's on the pitch.

The 19-year-old has moved up through the U's youth ranks to become a major part of manager Phil Parkinson's team and fans will be pleased to hear he is enjoying life at Layer Road.

It was Halford who scored the vital goal in the U's 1-1 draw at Mansfield in the FA Cup last Saturday, in a performance that won him a man-of-the-match accolade from supporters, as he started up front.

Centre-forward is not the position where Halford has made his name with the club, though, and he has also won a lot of admirers in his more usual slot at right-back.

Parkinson asked the versatile youngster to play a forward role in the U's Coca-Cola League One match against Tranmere and he rewarded him with a goal in that game and two subsequent strikes in his four starts since.

"As long as I am playing I don't mind where I play," he said. "But I do think there is less pressure up front. It is not my normal position and I kind of like that because there is less pressure.

"It is a sort of win-win for me. If I have a bad game there I can go back in defence and if I have a good game it's great."

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Published Friday, November 19, 2004

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