Colchester United have signed experienced winger Kyel Reid on loan from League Two rivals Coventry City.

The 29-year-old former West Ham United youngster has arrived at the Weston Homes Community Stadium until January.

Reid is eligble to make his Colchester debut in their Carabao Cup first-round tie against Aston Villa, on Wednesday night.

The left-sided wide man progressed through the West Ham United youth set-up and had loan spells at Championship level with Barnsley, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Wolves, Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic during his time at Upton Park.

He joined the Addicks on a permanent basis in 2010 where he played under former Colchester promotion-winning manager, Phil Parkinson.

Parkinson then signed Reid for Bradford City where he stayed for two seasons, helping them win promotion back to the third tier.

After that season with the Addicks, he then dropped to League Two as former U's boss Phil Parkinson persuaded Kyel to be part of his new project at Valley Parade.

After two seasons at that level, Kyel then helped the Bantams to promotion to League One in 2014.

He was also part of the Preston North End squad that won promotion to the Championship in 2015, before returning to Bradford on loan and helping them reach the League One play-off semi-finals.

He joined Coventry last season and has played 21 times for the Sky Blues but will now represent Colchester until at least January.

Colchester boss John McGreal has said he could be prompted to further add to his squad this week, depending on the extent of Tom Eastman's ankle injury.

The long-serving U's defender limped out of their 3-1 defeat at Accrington Stanley, last weekend.