COLCHESTER United have completed a hat-trick of new additions as the January transfer window draws to a close with the addition of Callum Roberts on a loan deal from Premier League giants Newcastle United.

The 21-year-old midfielder has come through Newcastle's youth system and made two appearances for them, including a place in the starting line-up for their FA Cup fourth round tie at Blackburn Rovers recently.

Roberts marked his first start by scoring in that game as Newcastle progressed with a 4-2 win at Ewood Park.

He has also featured a couple of times on the bench in the Premier League for the north-east club and has joined Abo Eisa and Ben Stevenson in joining the U's in the past two days.

It isn't Roberts' first loan spell as he spent time at National League side Gateshead in 2015 and more recently, was with Kilmarnock in 2017 when he made ten appearances in the Scottish Premier League.

But he is pleased to be coming into a Colchester side that is pursuing promotion from League Two and is hoping boss John McGreal includes him in the U's line-up for their League Two trip to Northampton Town on Saturday.

"It's good to come into a club looking to get promoted," said Roberts.

"We're sat eighth in the league and only a couple of points off the play-offs, so getting back in there will be the aim in the next couple of games.

"I just want to get involved now and hopefully the Gaffer will put me in on Saturday.

"I'm ready to go, I've played lots of games this season for the under-23s and recently with the first team at Newcastle.

"I had a chance in the FA Cup with Newcastle where I got my first start and a first goal and I've been on the bench for a few Premier League games and I'm just waiting for my full (Premier League) debut now.

"But the loan all went through quite quickly in the end.

"Newcastle have been a bit short recently so I've been involved there but they have players in now and I was allowed to leave. "I just want to play football now and that's what I've come here to do - to try and get promoted and be in the team. "I had a good loan spell up in Scotland a couple of years ago (at Kilmarnock), which was good experience and I learned a lot from it that I can take into this loan spell as well.

"The target here at Colchester is to get into the team, work hard for the team, stay there and score some goals.

"I can play anywhere across the front line - right wing, left wing or tucked in behind the striker - and I'd say my strengths are dribbling with the ball, scoring goals and making assists."