Colchester United legend Karl Duguid praises Noah Chilvers

The 21-year-old has been impressive for the U’s over recent weeks and scored their winner in the victory at Harrogate Town, last weekend.

Chilvers also provided the assist for Freddie Sears’ equaliser in the 2-1 triumph at the EnviroVent Stadium, earning the U’s academy graduate a place in the Sky Bet League Two Team of the Week.

Colchester’s reigning Player of the Year is enjoying a rousing finish to the season and has scored four goals in his last nine games.

And two-time U's promotion winner Duguid, who was at the JobServe Community Stadium to see his former club's recent game against league leaders Forest Green Rovers, has been hugely impressed by Chilvers’ form.

Duguid said: “Noah’s come through the youth set-up and he just looks so comfortable.

“The Forest Green game was the first time I’ve sort of seen him live; obviously I’d seen him on TV and things like that but he just seems so mature in the way he does things.

“He covers a lot of ground; you see him over on the right, then he’s on the left and he seems to be left to be a bit free, if I’m honest.

“He roams around the pitch a little bit.

“He’s come through the youth and he’s the next one, after your Szmodics and Gilbeys and players like that.

“You can see that he wants to do it for the football club.

“He also wants to do it for himself, I understand that.

“He’s in a rich vein of form and scored a few goals of late and you can see that he’s a goal threat.

“I think if you’ve got that goal threat from midfield, then you’ve got a great chance.

“I think I said about a year and a half ago that he was their best player and I still believe that.

“Noah’s coming into his own and he looks like he wants to be the best player as well.

“He works hard, he wants to win, you can see he’s got that little bit of character about him that the fans love.

“He’s a fantastic footballer but he’s also got that drive and desire and will to win.

“If you’ve got a few of them in there, then you’ve got a great chance and they’ll be fine.”

Duguid (pictured above) was back at the JobServe Community Stadium last month to see Colchester narrowly beaten 1-0 by Forest Green.

The former U’s favourite, who made more than 450 appearances during two spells at the club, is unable to attend regularly due to his coaching duties with Pitching In Isthmian League division north side Coggeshall Town.

However, the ex-Colchester skipper is hoping to be back at his old club again soon.

Duguid said: “It was really nice to be back there.

“I saw a lot of people that I hadn’t seen for a very long time.

“I really enjoyed it and it was nice the fact that there were a lot of people there.

“I did say I’ll have to try and go more often.

“It’s difficult because we play on Saturdays and train Tuesdays so I’ve got my own things going on but it would be nice to get along a bit more.

“It’s good to see people like Browny and Joe (Dunne), I saw the chairman – it’s nice to be around those people.

“I had a chat with Browny afterwards and it’s just a nice place to be around.

“I’ve missed going and I’ve missed being around the place.”