Colchester United head coach John McGreal says new signing Cole Kpekawa was a long-term target for him – and that he contemplated a move for him back in January.

The U’s have snapped up the talented left-back from Championship side Barnsley, whom he joined for £450,000 from Queens Park Rangers last September.

Kpekawa is no stranger to Colchester, having spent two months on loan at the Weston Homes Community Stadium back in November, 2014.

Now he is the U’s permanent player and boss McGreal believes the addition of the 21-year-old is a great signing for the League Two club.

McGreal said: “We’re delighted to have him on board.

“I knew Cole a couple of years ago when he was here on loan and he played a couple of first team games and for the under-21s, while I was here.

“I’ve been monitoring him and I was thinking about going for him last January.

“I know Jamie Clapham and Paul Heckingbottom at Barnsley really well and I’ve always had my eye on Cole as such.

“I think it’s a fantastic deal for the club.

“He went for nearly £400,000 last time and has played big games in the Championship, albeit seven or eight.

“But they were against the likes of Newcastle, Fulham and Derby who are different class.

“He’s been out on loan from a young age and got a big move in the Championship but it didn’t work out.

“He was at a big club in QPR but sometimes it doesn’t work out and he’s still only 21.

“With the size and height of him, you’d think he was a little bit older than he is.

“He still has a lot of learning to do but I’ve identified to him that he can come into this club as a young, hungry lad with something to prove with the Barnsley move not working out.

“We know what he’s about from a couple of years ago – he’s an athletic lad who wants to get up and down the line and I think he’ll be a great fit for us.”

Kpekawa was not considered fit enough to feature in Colchester’s friendly win over a West Ham United XI, last night.

However, boss McGreal believes he will be ready in time for the start of the new League Two season, which begins on August 5.

“He’s not fit at the minute because he hasn’t been in Barnsley’s plans so we’ve got to try and get him up to speed,” added McGreal.

“But we have two-and-a-half weeks and three games to do that and we’ll be looking to get a lot of work into him over a short space of time.”