BRENNAN Dickenson has declared himself fit and ready to start tomorrow's League Two showdown against Leyton Orient.

The Colchester United winger has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since September 24.

However, he made his eagerly-awaited comeback in Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy success against Charlton Athletic.

And now he has told head coach John McGreal that he is available to start against Orient at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“I’ve said I’m fit," said the 23-year-old.

"I’m available and ready to go.

“Now it’s up to the manager in terms of the team he picks.

“He knows I’m ready and strong, though, and knows what my attitude and mentality is.

“If he picks me he picks me, but I certainly feel comfortable and ready.

“It’s a game I’d love to be involved in. I like these derby matches with lots of fans there to cheer us on.

“It would be a great game to come back for and although it’ll be tough, I’m ready for any match that comes.

“It just feels great to be back, after seven weeks out, and it was good to get some minutes under my belt on Tuesday.

“I’m still trying to get up to speed a bit, but that’s only natural and will come the more I train and play."

Dickenson initially thought he would only be out for a fortnight.

Instead, his enforced spell on the sidelines has stretched to seven weeks and he admits that was a hammer-blow after making a strong start to the season.

“I’ve been out a bit longer than I expected," he said.

“It was the worst thing and I don’t normally suffer with hamstring injuries.

“I had a scan and saw the specialist and he said two weeks.

“We left it a fortnight but unfortunately I broke down in training.

“It was a setback and meant another few weeks on the sidelines, but I’m back now and stronger than I was before.

“Being out really hurt and I absolutely hate watching football when I’m injured. It’s been hard, but it's spurred me on to recover and get fit.

“You have to get your mind-set right and when that’s the case, and you’re feeling positive, it helps get you over the line.

“Hopefully it’s all in the past now."

Dickenson hopes to inspire some improved results for Colchester.

He feels that in his absence, the team have been unfortunate not to accumulate more points.

“We’ve dominated games without being quite clinical enough," he said.

“Small errors have cost us and we’ve drawn games we should have won and lost games we should have drawn."

“But we’ve got to take the positive from those performances and push on."