NEW Colchester United signing Tommy O’Sullivan says now is the right time for him to establish himself as a first-team player.

The 22-year-old has joined the U’s on an 18-month contract from Championship club Cardiff City and has gone straight into their squad for the trip to play Exeter City tomorrow.

O’Sullivan’s opportunities of senior football have been few and far between during his time with the Bluebirds, for whom he made only three first-team appearances.

And having quit his boyhood club, the Wales under-21 international is now looking to kick-start his professional career with Colchester.

O’Sullivan said: “I’d been at Cardiff since I was 12 and I’ve come through the Wales ranks, from 16s through to 21s so I’ve played a little bit of international football.

“I’ve also been on loan at Port Vale and Newport County so what I need now is time to kick on and play first-team football.

“The plan is to play first-team football; I don’t want to be taking a step back.

“I just want to kick on and improve now and hopefully the games will come and the chances and opportunities will be there.

“It’s like a fresh new start for me; it’s like the start of my career you could say.

“At Cardiff, I was still considered as an Academy player but here, you’re free to go and play, so I’m looking forward to it.

“I sat down with the (Cardiff) manager and said it was best just to move on, because there wasn’t going to be an opportunity to push on into the first team.”

O’Sullivan has already had experience of playing in League Two, having spent much of last season on loan at Newport County.

“I think that helps, as I know what to expect going into games,” said O’Sullivan, who also had a loan spell at Port Vale in the 2014-15 season.

“Newport were down the bottom when I was on loan there and it wasn’t great, so hopefully it’ll be a different experience here and more enjoyable when you’re winning games and not looking over your shoulder.

“I enjoyed playing in League Two and it was good to go out and play football.

“When you’re playing in front of crowds week in, week out there’s nothing better and that’s all you want to be doing.

“But when you’re down the bottom, it’s not really fun to be involved in.”

O’Sullivan knows former Colchester manager Geraint Williams well, having played under him for Wales youth teams.

“I enjoyed playing under Geraint,” added O’Sullivan.

“I was with him from under-19s to under-21s and it was great going away and playing for Wales.

“He’s a good manager and I enjoyed it.

“I’d love to play at full level and when you’re playing week in, week out at club level, anything can happen.”