Freddie Sears can break the 20-goal mark for Colchester United this season - providing the U’s continue to carve out goalscoring opportunities.

That’s the view of U’s boss Joe Dunne, after the former West Ham United striker bagged his first goal of the season in their 2-1 defeat at Notts County.

Sears finished as Colchester’s top goalscorer last season with 12 goals, despite having been sidelined for three months of the campaign through injury.

And having started the new season in impressive form the forward has the potential to score regularly, according to Dunne.

Dunne said: “Freddie has got one goal to show for what I think have been tremendous performances.

“He’s played in three different positions, not moaned once and still commanded the work-rate that I ask.

“If we continue creating those kind of chances, he can be a 20-goal-a-season striker for us.

“He scored 12 goals for us last season, even though he missed three months for us.

“He deserved his goal against Notts County but I think we did as a team.”

For more on this story and a three-page preview of the U's game against Doncaster Rovers, see Friday's Daily Gazette.