Sammie Szmodics' encouraging appearance at Molineux can act as inspiration for Colchester United's other rising young stars, according to the club's head of youth Tony Humes.

The U's academy player impressed as a second-half substitute in their 4-2 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, on Tuesday night.

Humes said: "They all want to strive and emulate what the likes of Sammie and Alex Gilbey have done.

"When those guys get their opportunity, it makes the ones who aren't quite there yet strive for it even more.

"Sammie has done really well and it's fully deserved.

"He featured for the first team earlier in the season and even though he's not been involved over the last couple of months, he's kept working hard.

"It was great for him to be involved at Molineux and that's the kind of experience that we want for them all.

"We want them to go out and play their normal game and not be fazed by anything and I think that's the case with Sammie."

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