MIKAEL Mandron was full of infectious positivity as he bounded out of the JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday night.

His all-round buoyancy was hardly surprising given the fact that he had just scored Colchester United’s vital winner against Macclesfield Town, which helped seal three important points.

Indeed, the French striker had every reason to be cheerful after scoring for the first time in nearly nine months and ending his barren run in front of goal.

Yet while Mandron undoubtedly had an extra spring in his step and a broader smile after finding the net, his cheerfulness was typical of a man noted for his upbeat attitude.

Indeed, it would be hard to find a more likeable footballer.

His bright outlook is pretty much the same after every Colchester game – win, lose or draw.

And while the 24-year-old has had to wait patiently for his starting spot in John McGreal’s line-up this season, he has never been one to let his work ethic drop.

“Mika doesn't moan - he's the first out in training and the last in,” said McGreal of Mandron after the Macclesfield win.

"He works ever so hard and he just gets on with the job.”

Having started the vast majority of Colchester’s games in his first year with the club last season, Mandron’s opportunities have been scarcer this time around.

A prime reason for that has been the prolific form of Luke Norris since his arrival from Swindon Town in the summer.

Mandron has been forced to play second fiddle to Norris for most of the season and settle for fleeting substitute appearances – until recently.

Norris’s ankle injury at the beginning of November has given Mandron a window of opportunity and he has seized it.

The former Sunderland striker’s impressive display against Macclesfield followed on from two productive performances against Exeter City and Forest Green Rovers for the U’s, where his link-up with Sammie Szmodics earned praise from McGreal.

Perhaps that is why the likes of Peterborough United and Lincoln City were linked with the lofty forward, in the summer.

Like several other players, Mandron is out of contract in the summer and needs to produce consistently in order to boost his hopes of earning a new deal.

If he continues to perform and score in the same way as he did against Macclesfield, he has every chance of being offered new terms.