Colchester United in talks with Frank Nouble about return

And the popular forward is hoping to get his immediate future resolved ideally within the next seven days.

Nouble, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Colchester and played his part in helping them stay in League Two, is looking for a club after leaving Plymouth Argyle.

The 29-year-old has been speaking to the U’s and other clubs about joining them for the 2021-22 season.

And Nouble, who has made more than 100 appearances for Colchester in his two spells with the club, admits he would love a return to the JobServe Community Stadium.

Nouble told the Gazette: “I’ve already expressed how I feel about Colchester, so they know that I want to come back.

“I think they’ve been sorting out a few other players and it’s been a slow process that has dragged out a bit.

“Hopefully, it’ll come to a close within the next week or so.

“I’m a bit like everyone else – I’m just waiting to see what can be done and what can’t be done.

“I know the club by now and I’ve been there for two and a half years; I just want to settle down somewhere and I think Colchester is a home for me.

“Hopefully if it is Colchester, I’m sure it’ll be sorted out in the next week or so.

“I don’t think I can wait any longer because I need to know for me and the family where I’m going to be, next year.

“I’m very much in dialogue with the club and I’m just trying to see if it can be done really – hopefully it can all be resolved very soon.

“It’s hard for me as well because I just want something sorted out straight away; we’re just trying to make the right decision.”

Nouble returned to Colchester on loan last February, having six months earlier been one of four senior players to have left the club last summer as a result of the financial implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The experienced forward played his part in keeping the U’s in League Two, starting all but one of their remaining 21 games after joining and scoring three times in that spell.

“When I first came back, I knew that the boys were lacking in confidence and we were right in the middle of a bad run,” said Nouble, who has played in all of England’s top four divisions.

“It was a totally different atmosphere and a new experience for me, so it was difficult for everyone at the time.

“No-one really dealt with it best with managers being changed left, right and centre and results not going our way but I don’t think it was through lack of effort.

“There were a lot of things going on and it just wasn’t working out on the field.

“We got the job done in the end and for me personally, I was buzzing because I came back to the club making sure it did stay in League Two.

“It wasn’t the plan but it felt like a little mini promotion.

“For me personally, I felt that my presence and just being in the building helped whatever percentage it was, whether it was five or ten, I knew it was enough.

“I’ll always be happy that I did that and helped the club, especially with the fans not being there.

“Imagine being relegated and the fans not being there to support you; it was tough for the other clubs that went down.

“But for us, I was buzzing and I’m sure whoever watched the games can appreciate what I did and what the rest of the boys did, because it was a team effort.”

Nouble struck up a good understanding with Michael Folivi in the final weeks of the season under Hayden Mullins.

The pair developed a good partnership in the last few games of the League Two campaign, with Folivi scoring twice in that time.

Nouble added: “We struck a good understanding; it reminded me a bit of when Szmods (Sammie Szmodics) was there, a young player hungry for success.

“We started off with me playing up front on my own and we weren’t getting the results that we wanted but when Hayden changed it to the two, I think it worked and the results showed that.

“Folivi came in and scored important goals.

“He’s another player who I’m sure Colchester will be looking at to try and sign again and hopefully, he gets that sorted out.”