Colchester United loanee Ryan Inniss is adamant they can be a match for any team in League Two this season – with Chesterfield the next side in his sights.

The 22-year-old uncompromising centre-back is hoping to build on his impressive debut display against Crawley Town when the U’s host the struggling Spireites at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight.

Colchester have taken seven points from nine at home so far this season, scoring nine goals in the process.

And Inniss, on loan at the U’s from Crystal Palace until January, is confident they can rise up the table if they can reproduce their impressive first-half display in the 3-1 win over Crawley.

Inniss said: “If we continue from the way we played against Crawley in the first half, we’ll be a match for anyone in this league.

“We’re going to work towards getting that clean sheet and keep building and keep working hard.

“The lads have been upbeat and the gaffer has instilled that in us.

“The club should be higher than where it is and it’s just about getting a run.

“I’ve seen it any league and once you get a run of games and the confidence is flowing especially with young players, we’ll feel like we’re unbeatable.

“That can be good, as long as you tone it in the right way.

“Teams aren’t going to want to come here, that’s for sure.

“We’re looking a real threat and we’re trying to make it a fortress here.

“I saw Chesterfield’s result was 5-1 (against Crewe last Saturday) so good luck to them coming down here is what I’ll say, because we’re young and hungry and we want to go and mirror our first-half performance (against Crawley).

“That was one of the best performances I’ve been involved in.

“It’s a young team and I wasn’t sure what to expect – I’ve been in all kinds of dressing rooms.

“But I tell you what, the camaraderie here is unbelievable.

“Even in the first couple of days’ training, I saw the quality.

“People wonder if a young team is going to be naïve but I looked at the league table and there’s no way we’ll be down there, come the end of the season.”

Inniss has thanked Colchester for signing him last month, despite the defender picking up a knee injury playing in an under-23 game for parent club Palace.

The former Southend United loanee has been hampered by injuries at times over recent years but says he is glad to be at the U’s.

“I’d like to thank Colchester for showing that faith in me – I picked up an injury two days before the window,” said Inniss, who also had loan spells at the likes of Luton Town, Port Vale and Yeovil Town.

“They could have easily gone elsewhere but they still signed me and here we are now.

“I’ve had a turbulent couple of years in terms of injuries but Palace have stuck by me and the gaffer showed an interest.

“I’m so happy to come to Colchester and the Crawley game gave me a lot of confidence.

“I’ve been out for a while and towards the end of the game, I felt the fatigue.

“It’s been really tough – I don’t like to talk about the mental side of it too much but you can see the way I play.

“I like to get stuck in and put my heart into my performances.

“I have to pick myself up time and time again and I have to thank Crystal Palace for sticking by me for so long.

“I just want to get a run of games – that is what the gaffer has said to me.

“He’s said to me that if I need a day here and there, he’ll look after me.

“I just want to show what I can do, at whatever level it’s at.”