Denny Johnstone admits he is disappointed he did not make more of an impact during his time at Colchester United.

The striker left the U’s last month to join Scottish Premiership outfit St Johnstone on loan, for the rest of the season.

Johnstone’s return to Scotland ended his largely frustrating spell at Colchester, where he struggled to hold down a place in John McGreal’s starting line-up.

The 22-year-old managed only two goals in his injury-hit first season with the U’s after joining them from Birmingham City - and admits a fresh start was the best thing for both parties.

Johnstone told the Daily Gazette: “For me, I want to be playing football and getting as many minutes under my belt as possible and that was something I couldn’t get at Colchester.

“That’s the way it is in football sometimes and things don’t always work out the way you want them to.

“When I realised I wasn’t going to be in Colchester’s starting line-up, the loan was something I was looking to make happen and I think it suited both me and the club.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t make more of an impact at Colchester but I’ll be following their results and hopefully they can go on and win promotion, this season.

“I’ve made some good friends there and I hope they will be for a long time.”

Johnstone is contracted at Colchester until next summer but will remain at St Johnstone until the end of the current campaign.

However, he insists he is currently not looking further than this season – and where his future might lie after that.

He said: “I’m not thinking past my loan at the moment - I’m just focusing on doing well for St Johnstone at the moment.”

Johnstone made his first start for St Johnstone in their 3-2 defeat at Dundee last weekend, having previously made two substitute appearances for Tommy Wright’s side.

He experienced a memorable debut for the Saints after coming off the bench in their 1-1 draw at champions Celtic, where he came through the youth ranks.

“It was fantastic to make my debut at Celtic and in such a great stadium, especially having come through their academy like I had,” said Johnstone.

“We were 1-0 up and ten minutes away from breaking their record and we were so close to winning.

“The move has been very productive, so far.

“I came into a winning side and the team were doing well, so that has helped.

“There’s a lot of confidence in the dressing room and that’s good.

“We’re sitting in fourth place at the moment and we’re looking to push on.

“It’s made it a bit easier with me being Scottish and I already knew a few people at the club, so I feel like I’ve settled in well.”

Johnstone missed the last two-and-a-half months of last season with a knee injury, which forced him to undergo surgery.

He added: “I’ve not got any issues with my knee now.

“But I think it’ll take a couple of weeks to get up to full match sharpness again.”