Colchester United manager Kevin Keen has backed Nathan Oduwa to have a good career in the game after his loan spell at the Weston Homes Community Stadium ended.

Oduwa managed only two substitute appearances for the U’s in his spell at the club from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and has now returned to White Hart Lane.

The 20-year-old winger recently featured in the Nigeria under-23 squad in Brazil and boss Keen said his involvement on the international stage played a part in them deciding against Oduwa staying for longer.

Keen said: “We weren’t sure whether to keep him or not and he did OK, but he then got called up for Nigeria Under-23s which meant he would miss a couple of games.

“We just decided in the long run that it would be better for him to go back to Tottenham.

“He’s a great lad with a great work ethic.

“He did Tottenham proud in the chances that he did have.

“He has a great attitude and he’ll have a good career but it was just with the Nigeria thing and him going off to Brazil, it sort of made our decision for us.

“Drey (Wright) has done well up there for us and Darren Ambrose has scored when he’s come in and done well.”