Colchester United midfielder Arthur Read is in fine form

That’s the view of U’s head coach Ben Garner, who believes Read has come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time.

Read has been in excellent form for Colchester this season having started every league game for them to date and scored his first two goals for the club in their 5-4 win over Notts County, last weekend.

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The 23-year-old was U’s man-of-the-match against the Magpies after scoring a magnificent free-kick and following it up with another spectacular strike and has established himself as a key component, in Garner’s side.

Garner said: “Credit to Ready – he practises those free-kicks all the time.

“He’s been waiting for one to go in, because he works at them.

“He does extra work all the time, he’s got wonderful quality and I think he’s really improving as a player from where we were, walking in the door.

“This is a player who has never really had a sustained run of games at professional level and he’s growing and maturing.

“Ready’s a forward’s dream really, because if he gets time on the ball and gets his head up, you know he’s got the vision and quality to find you.

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“If I’m a front player and he’s got time on the ball, then I’m making my runs and I’m trusting that he’s got the quality to find me.”

Colchester will be aiming to follow up their win over Notts County with another victory tonight.

They head to Newport County in confident mood after that victory, where front pair Joe Taylor and Samson Tovide both impressed.

Neither were on the scoresheet but Garner said their overall showing for the U’s was key.

“We don’t judge them on their goals,” he said.

“It’s an all-round performance and their energy and their discipline without the ball and they’re such a threat.”

Colchester can leapfrog their hosts Newport in the table with a win tonight and have lost only one of their last four League Two matches.

Garner said: “We’re getting better and better and this is a new group.

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“OK, we didn’t manage to see it out against MK Dons or Mansfield, when we were so comfortable but the group is becoming tighter and getting to know each other and that’s what gets you through those difficult moments in those closing stages.

“The spirit and the energy hasn’t dropped and that’s full credit to the players.”