Matthew Mills has vowed to challenge for a first-team place at Manchester City, after his spell at Colchester United ended.

The 20-year-old central defender has returned to the Premiership club, having spent two months on loan at Layer Road.

Mills played eight times for Colchester in the Coca-Cola Championship, after joining them on loan at the end of January. However, he has now returned to the City of Manchester Stadium - and is determined to force his way into manager Stuart Pearce's plans between now and the end of the season.

He told the Gazette: "Manchester City have decided to call me back and I've been training with them again.

"I wasn't really guaranteed first-team football at Colchester week in, week out.

"I think I would have stayed if I had been but now I just want to push towards the first team at Manchester City.

"It's not been the best of seasons for us but hopefully we can stay in the Premiership and push on from there."