Colchester United pulled out all the stops to secure the signature of Sam Stockley today ensuring his availabilty for the game against Bristol City.

After impressing on an initial two month loan spell, the U's had been confident that they had signed the player last week.

However the move hit a hitch and both the player and the club had been left in limbo.

But hard work behind the scenes rescued the deal and Stockley was registered with the U's just before the Football League deadline.

He told the U's official website www.cu-fc.com "It has been incredibly hard this week, and it wasn't helped by the fact that no-one at Oxford was telling me anything that was going on.

"I've been kept up to date by Marie Partner and Steve Whitton. Marie has been absolutely brilliant and I want to thank her for working wonders to get this deal sorted."

U's boss Steve Whitton earlier confirmed Stockley will play a part in the game if he was signed in time.

Steve Whitton said about the game: "Bristol City is a really big game for us, and we have to make sure everyone of our players is on top of their form.

"I'm sure those players who lost at Mansfield last Friday night will want to go out and prove they are far better players than that result."

If Cameroon striker Simon Atangana agrees his new weekly deal he could also figure in the squad.

Micky Cook's talented U's under-18 squad have landed a plum FA Youth Cup third round tie against the mighty Arsenal at Highbury.

Published Friday November 8, 2002

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