Colchester United may not have got the new season off to the winning start they had so craved.

But one huge positive to come out of the opening seven days of the embryonic campaign has been the eye-catching form of one of their own.

Alex Gilbey has always been a player with huge promise.

But the midfielder has been excellent in each of Colchester’s opening three matches and appears to be realising the considerable potential he has.

When I spoke to Alex after the U’s opening-day draw with Blackpool, a game in which he scored a splendid goal to cap a superb individual display, he spoke eloquently and confidently.

One thing that particularly struck me about the interview was his desire to take responsibility for his own game.

At 20 years old, he is still a young player learning his trade.

But Gilbey knows he is the trailblazer for the influx of academy graduates now in the U’s first-team squad.

He is now fast approaching 100 league and cup appearances and knows that he must set the example for his up-and-coming team-mates to follow.

That is showing in his excellent performances.

The absence of Chris Porter because of injury has given Gilbey the chance to skipper Colchester in their last couple of games and he has accepted that role with relish.

The commitment and attitude he has shown are exactly the kind of leadership qualities befitting a captain - and they are characteristics that rub off on others.

Last season was at times a difficult one for Gilbey; it is a little known fact outside of the club that he played through the pain barrier for the final weeks of last season in order to help keep Colchester in League One.

His form suffered a little as a result but the summer break has seen him return revitalised and in fine fettle.

It has been nearly three years since Gilbey made his senior debut for the U’s – now he is showing the kind of consistent eye-catching form that can potentially take him to the very top of the game.

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.