FREDDIE Sears is about to complete one of the most productive goalscoring seasons of his career.

The Colchester United hot shot is fifth in League Two’s top scorer list with 14 goals and has found the net 17 times in all competitions.

It is his best goal return since the season he left the club for Ipswich Town.

But as is typical of any striker, the U’s forward is still hungry for more.

“I’ve got 17 goals now and I’ll be gutted if I don’t get to 20, because I feel like I should have had that, this season,” said Sears, ahead of Colchester’s final game of the season at Hartlepool United tomorrow.

“I’ll go again next season and hopefully, there’ll be more goals and more appearances for the team.

“When I came in, I was looking to get to double figures.

“Then when you get to ten, you want to get to 15; when you get to 15, you want to get to 20.

“I’m delighted with 17, it’s a brilliant return for a team that hasn’t really had too much of a great season.

Gazette:

“I think I’m fifth highest scorer in League Two, so to be in amongst that sort of list, you’re obviously doing something well.

“But I’d give all of that up to be at the top of the league and as much as I’ve done well this season, it’s still disappointing that we’re sitting in the bottom half of the league.”

Despite Colchester’s struggles this season, from an individual perspective it has been a productive campaign for Sears.

In his first season back at the U’s after returning to the club from Ipswich, the 32-year-old has enjoyed his best goal return for seven years and has featured in 52 games in all competitions, more matches than any other player in the squad.

“At Ipswich, I had a few injuries,” said Sears, whose goal return this season is his best since he hit 23 in the 2014-15 campaign.

“I did my ACL which is a bad injury and to come back and be fit last year and then to come in and play almost every game bar one this season, I’m proud of that.

“It’s been good to be available and fit; a lot of people pick up niggles and thankfully this season, I’ve had none of that so hopefully that can continue.

“I feel like it’s been one of my best seasons in recent times.

Gazette:

“I feel my best season was probably when I was here and then I got the move to Ipswich – that was my best goalscoring season.

“It’s hard to judge my seasons because I’ve played as a striker and that’s where I want to play, where you can be judged on goals whereas before, I’m playing on the wing and probably scoring five or six less than that a season but you’re a winger.

“The aim when I came here was to play games, score goals and play as a centre-forward and thankfully, I’ve done that.”

It has been an eventful season for Colchester, with Hayden Mullins dismissed as head coach in January following a poor run of results and replaced by interim boss Wayne Brown, who alongside Joe Dunne and Dave Huzzey has steered the club to League Two safety.

“When the manager came in, the aim was to stay in the division,” said Sears, who has now in total made 161 appearances for Colchester, scoring 53 times.

“That’s not a target that we set out with at the start of the season but that was the aim and to do that was brilliant.

Gazette:

“Wayne, Joe (Dunne) and Dave (Huzzey) have all come in with fresh ideas and I think that’s what we needed.

“Hayden (Mullins) did a good job for what he could do but he had new ideas and Browny’s been great to be fair and picked up a lot of results.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché but we’re looking forward to next season again.

“I know we say that every year but I feel like with the back end of the season we’ve had, there’s no reason why we can’t be looking up the league, rather than down.

“A lot of boys are in contract here, so that’s a good thing.

Gazette:

“There might be some offers but hopefully, we can keep the group together and hope for a strong season, next year.

“We’re looking to kick on to next season now.

“We’ve had a good run of form where we’ve picked up some good home wins and good away wins and we’re just looking forward to getting the season done now and going again, next year.”

Colchester complete their season at Hartlepool tomorrow and Sears is looking to finish on a high, at Victoria Park.

He added: “I remember coming in for pre-season and you’re waiting for the season to start and now we’re at the end of the season again.

“We’re looking forward to the last game.

“It’s a bit of a long trek but hopefully, we can get the result and a few more goals would be nice.”