Magnus Okuonghae has paid tribute to his former manager John Still for giving him his Football League chance.

The Colchester United defender - nicknamed the Beast by U’s fans - was playing non-league football when Still snapped him up for Dagenham and Redbridge, in 2007.

Okuonghae spent two years at Daggers, before leaving them to join Colchester in the summer of 2009.

And as the 24-year-old prepares to face his former club for the first time tonight in an all-Essex derby, the big centre-half said he has nothing but respect for his former boss Still.

Okuonghae told the Gazette: “John gave me my chance.

“I was at Crawley and I had a good time there but he came and got me and took me to Dagenham.

“My first year there was hard and I was injured but he kept faith in me and the next season, I think I only missed one league game."

For more on this story and a full preview of Colchester United's home clash with Dagenham and Redbridge tonight, see Tuesday's Gazette.