MARLEY Marshall Miranda 'fully justified and warranted' his elevation to Colchester United's matchday 18.

That's the view of U's interim head coach Wayne Brown, after the teenage midfielder was named on the bench for the club's home clash with Port Vale.

Miranda has impressed in academy games and in training for Colchester over recent weeks, leading to him being included among the substitutes for their 1-0 win at the JobServe Community Stadium, last weekend.

The 19-year-old did not come but boss Brown says the former Brighton and Hove Albion youngster deserved to be promoted to first-team matchday duties.

Brown said: “There’s got to be evidence and a process at the football club that you’re in the squad on merit.

“Yes sometimes positional (issues) dictate who comes into the squad.

“But Marley has been brilliant over the last few weeks and months.

“His performances have been at a level and he’s fully justified and warranted his place within the squad.

“That helps with the buy-in for the rest of the young lads that we have at the football club.

“There’s a philosophy at the football club where we want to try and play our own and get the lads from our own environment into the first team and there’s just another example that we won’t be afraid to do it, when your opportunity comes along."

Gazette:

Miranda made his professional debut for Colchester after coming on as a late substitute for them in their Carabao Cup first-round tie at Championship side Reading, in September 2020.

Since then, the combative midfielder has made a further four substitute appearances for the U's, including his league debut in their season opener at Bradford City in the 2020-21 season.

Miranda signed a new contract for Colchester in December 2020, keeping him at the club until 2023.

Meanwhile, Joe Dunne has returned to the U's set-up.

The U's interim assistant head coach was back at Florence Park yesterday, after missing the Port Vale game due to illness.

Brown added: “Joe is back in as of today (Thursday).

“He feels better – he was struggling a little bit and that’s why we kept him away from the environment.

“But you can imagine what Joe is like – he’s chomping at the bit to be back involved and have an impact.”