ALISTAIR Smith says he is determined to show that he can make an impact from the start of games after he joined Colchester United on loan.

The 24-year-old midfielder has signed for the U’s until the end of the season from League One side Lincoln City, where he has found starts hard to come by over recent times.

Smith has vowed to put in the hard work for Colchester in their remaining 18 games of the season.

And the former Sutton United man is eager to show exactly what he can do for his new club.

READ MORE: Colchester United have signed Alistair Smith from Lincoln City

Smith told Col U TV: “I just believe that if you’re a footballer, you want to play games.

“If it’s not happening at Lincoln right now, I just need to go out and play games and prove to myself that I’ve still got the ability to show and affect games from the start, instead of coming off the bench.

“I’m just the sort of player who likes to put the team first.

“I like to work hard first and foremost and I believe I’ve got good qualities on the ball, whether it be linking up with my team-mates or scoring some goals and helping out defensively.

Gazette:

“That’s the sort of player I am, an all-action midfielder.

“I think the fans can expect a lot of hard work from me, being aggressive, winning my tackles and producing at the other end of the pitch too, trying to get goals and help us win games.

“I’ll be putting in the hard work, first and foremost.”

Smith is Colchester’s fourth new signing of the January transfer window, as boss Danny Cowley shapes his squad for the second half of the season and beyond.

READ MORE: Why U's postponement could prove to be a blessing in disguise

Riley Harbottle, Jayden Richardson and Conor Wilkinson have also linked up with the U’s, this month.

“I had a good conversation on the phone with the gaffer,” said Smith, who started his career at Mansfield Town.

“We spoke about what he sees from me in this team and how he sees the direction the club is going in, in general.

“I had a good chat with him; it made a lot of sense and it was nice talking to him, so it was a no brainer.

“The last couple of days have as you can imagine been a bit busy, talking through everything with the management team and the facilities which are amazing and getting the medical done.”