DIAZ Wright has vowed to ensure he is ready to produce a rapid response if he is chosen in Colchester United’s starting line-up this season.

The 20-year-old midfielder admits he knows he must grasp his opportunities with both hands for the U’s this season, with boss John McGreal not short of options in that area of the field.

Wright started made only the second league start of his fledgling career when he featured in Colchester’s 2-0 loss at Newport County, last weekend.

The U’s academy product would dearly love to keep his place for their game against Exeter City this weekend but knows that with Harry Pell and Brandon Comley both available again, competition is fierce.

Wright told the Daily Gazette: “There’s no time to start slow because you know that with other competition, you might not get your chance again so you have to try and take it.

“I hope I’ve done enough to keep my place.

“With Pelle being suspended and Comley being away, I kind of knew I might start (at Newport).

“I’ve just been enjoying it and hopefully stay in and around it, even when they’re back.

“It was obviously disappointing to lose the game but hopefully the gaffer has seen that I’ve done enough and I’m ready to go.

“Being involved in a promotion race so to speak is very exciting.

“Obviously everyone wants to play and I haven’t had too many minutes, especially in the league.

“But hopefully I can get a little run and if not, just support the boys and hopefully get promoted.”

Wright says he is learning all the time from the likes of Pell and Tom Lapslie – especially when he is lining up alongside them in matches.

He said: “Playing with them in the team helps more than training, because you learn the little things in a game that you might not have seen from the sidelines.

“They’ve all played over 100 games, so anything I can take from them I will.”

Wright was one of seven Colchester academy products to start for the club at Newport last weekend, with a further four on the bench.

“The squad that travelled to Newport was very young, probably the youngest of the season,” added Wright, who has now made 11 senior appearances for Colchester.

“But the gaffer has said for us to get used to it because ultimately that is what you want to be involved in week in, week out.

“It’s very different to 23s football but the earlier you can do it, the better.”