COLCHESTER United assistant manager Steve Ball has challenged Dion Sembie-Ferris to keep making a positive impression.

The 20-year-old wide man has been limited to just three substitute appearances this season, in addition to a start in the Football League Trophy tie at Crawley.

However, it was back at Crawley on Tuesday night, when he stepped off the bench for an impressive cameo appearance, that he delivered another reminder of his undoubted talent.

And assistant boss Ball believes the youngster did exactly the right thing – grabbing the opportunity when it came along.

“Dion has played well at League One level, during the run-in when we stayed up,” he said.

“At times he was playing very well back then, so we know what he can do.

“He’s had a bit of an up and down time this season.

“We’ve got some very talented wingers at the club so it’s a very competitive position.

“It’s tough for him, but I thought he was great when he came on the other night.

“He impacted the game and that’s what we want him to do, whether it’s for the first team or the under-23s.

“With young lads, they’re always going to gain a bit of form and lose a bit of form.

“But if he can have that impact on a more regular basis, I’m sure he’ll get more starts.”

Ball believes that “one of the beauties” of the U’s is that even their younger players have a degree of experience under their belts, due to the club’s philosophy of blooding raw talent.

Sembie-Ferris is one example and so too is Kane Vincent-Young, who came on for the injured Richard Brindley at Crawley on Tuesday.

Brindley is expected to be fit for tomorrow’s long trek to Carlisle – he was only taken off as a precaution in midweek – but Ball believes his club are fortunate to have capable deputies.

“Kane came on and did great so if Richard doesn’t make it tomorrow, we know Kane is available,” he said.

“That’s the beauty of our club, that our younger players have got games under their belts.

“Even Macca Bonne, who’s gone out on loan because he can’t break into the team, has played 60 or 70 games.

“We have these young players with experience and with the emergency loan window closing, we do think that will benefit us over the course of the season.”

Ball believes the club’s young guns are fortunate to share a dressing room with experienced front man Chris Porter, who scored the vital late equaliser at Crawley.

“Ports is a great pro and a lot of the younger lads can learn a lot from him,” he said.

“He was disappointed to miss out (on a place in the starting line-up) on Tuesday night.

“However, there’s no doubt that whether he starts or comes on, Chris will always have the right approach.

“What we want is two or three strikers to provide us with real competition.

“We’ve set different targets in different areas of the pitch and obviously we’re looking for a certain return in goals from the strikers.

“But we’d like goals to come from different areas, including the defenders, because we believe we can be dangerous from set-pieces.