HAVING ticked the box of getting a first Football League start under his belt, Rekeil Pyke now has another target in his sights during his loan spell at Colchester United.

The 19-year-old striker, who is on loan with the U's from Championship side Huddersfield Town, got his first start in the League Two win against Mansfield Town on Tuesday.

He is hoping to back that up with another starting place when they head to Crewe Alexandra tomorrow and he wants to back that up with a debut league goal to help the team to another valuable three-point haul.

The young loanee, who U's boss John McGreal described as a 'beast of a kid', said: "I think I'm a powerful striker and I can take people on as well so hopefully it won't be long until I can score my first goal.

"That's what every striker wants.

"Hopefully we can get the win at Crewe and I'll score my first goal.

"I think it went really well against Mansfield and I really enjoyed it - our main focus was to win the game and that's what we did.

"I had to wait quite a bit for that first start but I'm happy it has come now and I'm looking to get more in the next few games.

"Huddersfield have told me to fight for my place within a men's team, which I feel I'm doing now.

"I've got that first start and hopefully there'll be others.

"I was at Wrexham earlier in the season on loan, but this is a different standard to the National League.

"It's more brutal there whereas they play more football here and it's good getting that experience.

"Colchester are going for promotion and that's a big thing as well.

"I just want to help the team as much as possible.

"It is a different environment from what I'm used to as I'm usually with the under-23s at Huddersfield, so it's good to be within a first-team environment and doing what I'm doing.

"It brings a lot of different skills out of me."

Pyke is due to be with the U's until the end of the season and said he expects his loan spell with Colchester to be extended if they secure a League Two play-off spot at the end of the campaign.

However, the young striker feels there are still enough points for them to be fighting for to continue keeping the top-three automatic promotion places in their sights.

He added: "Hopefully we can string a few more results together as that would put us right in the mix.

"It would take us into the play-offs and maybe even the automatic positions.

"That's still there if we can win enough and we should keep targeting that."

"They are doing very well and they have the momentum so if they can continue going that way then they should go up into the Premier League.

Loan will be extended if Colchester get into the play-offs.

Chris Porter

"He organises well and tells me what I can do better, he gives me good advice saying where he's going to flick the ball on to and stuff like that.

"He could win most things in the air but I could link the play up.