CLINTON Morrison has insisted he will not give up his battle to force his way into Colchester United’s starting line-up.

The 34-year-old striker has revealed he has spoken to U’s boss Joe Dunne about his lack of first-team football this season.

Morrison is yet to start in League One this season and has made only four substitute appearances for Colchester.

The former Republic of Ireland international admits he considered leaving the U’s on loan, in a bid to get some match action.

But boss Dunne has told Morrison that he wants him to stay at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and fight for his place.

Morrison, whose current U’s deal expires next summer, said: “I want to stay here.

“I think people have enquired but the manager doesn’t want me to go, which is fair enough.

“Obviously I want to play football, because I still believe I can score goals. I have to push and I’m not going to give up.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer and I want to play football.

“The gaffer doesn’t want me to go out on loan – he wants me to be around the group here.

“I was thinking maybe I could go out on loan for a month but I also want to stay here.

“My time will come – the manager is an honest guy and he’s told me that to my face. If he didn’t want me here, he would have told me that and I’m a big enough man to say if I don’t want to be here.

“It’s frustrating, because I love playing football and I’m not a man who wants to just sit on the bench and just pick up my wages.

“That’s not me - I still have hunger to play football.

“But the big man up front (Jabo Ibehre) has been doing well and him and Searsy (Freddie Sears) have been scoring, so I just have to bide my time.”

Despite being starved of opportunities in Colchester’s starting XI this season, Morrison says he has plenty of admiration for Dunne.

The U’s boss is keen to see his side play attractive, attacking football, an approach that the experienced striker is a big fan of.

“I have respect for the manager here,” said Morrison, who played in the U’s 5-2 friendly defeat against former club Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.

“He’s doing a great job and he’s bringing through the youngsters and bringing in some exciting players.

“I believe that this club can go places, regardless of whether or not I’m here next season.

“The gaffer is doing it the right way, because he’s playing football. Even if he loses a few games, he’s doing it the right way and long ball football is a thing of the past. I know it might get results but I don’t like it and that’s what he’s trying to instil in the youngsters and it’s working.”