DIAZ Wright says he feels part of Colchester United’s first-team squad after being given the chance to shine in pre-season.

The talented midfielder has featured for John McGreal’s side in each of their four friendlies so far and scored their late equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Dagenham and Redbridge, on Tuesday night.

Wright has returned to the U’s on a high, following a successful loan spell at Braintree Town last season where he helped them win promotion to the Vanarama National League.

The 20-year-old Colchester academy graduate now wants to push for a place in the starting line-up for their League Two opener at Notts County, on August 4.

Wright told the Daily Gazette: “I’ve been with the first team throughout the whole thing and I feel properly a part of it now.

“I’m just waiting for the season to start and hopefully still be in and around it.

“Everyone’s buzzing and just wants August 4th to come along.

“We all want to be in the starting line-up for that game, even the young ones as well, so it’s been really good.

“Pre-season has been good - training has been tough but it’s been the level I’ve wanted to be at for a while.”

Wright was pleased to net Colchester’s equaliser at Dagenham, taking his opportunity well after being sent through by team-mate Aaron Collins.

“It’s always good to score goals, especially from centre midfield,” said Wright, who signed a new one-year deal with the U’s earlier this summer.

“I haven’t really scored too many goals in previous seasons with the under-23s, so it’s never a bad time to start scoring.

“The name on the scoresheet is the first thing that people look at, so I’m happy.

“I wanted to get as many sprints into the box as I could and Aaron (Collins) found me quite well.

“It was a good pass and luckily, it went in the back of the net.

“I was one of the boys who came in for 20 minutes at the end, so we knew that we could put everything into the time we were on for and then hopefully, get more minutes at the weekend.

“It was a good test for us against a decent side.”

Wright says his experience of playing for Braintree last season were hugely beneficial.

The young midfielder scored the winning penalty in Iron’s shoot-out win over Hampton and Richmond Borough in the National League South play-off final, in May.

“The penalty shoot-out will stay with me for a long time.

“If that’s my only promotion then it’ll stay with me forever.

“It was a decent way to end a good loan spell for me.

“I wasn’t really a part of it at Colchester as much as I’d wanted to be last year, so to get a good loan with Braintree and local as well and for it to end in promotion was good for everyone involved.

“Braintree are now in the Conference Premier which is only one league below us, so it’s a natural progression for me.

“I had a really good time at Braintree.

“Obviously getting promoted was a big bonus and the Braintree manager (Brad Quinton) always spoke highly of me.

“Playing men’s football a couple of divisions below our first team is always good.”

Diaz says he is still in touch with his older brother Drey, who made nearly 150 appearances for Colchester before leaving them for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone, earlier this summer.

He added: “It’s been a bit weird not having Drey around – the first season I’m properly with the first team, he’s not here!

“But it’s just one of those things and he’s doing well up in Scotland.

“I still speak to him near enough every week and I think he scored the winner the other day in a penalty shoot-out so he’s doing well and hopefully, I can do the same.”