ONE key person certainly didn't allow the January transfer window speculation surrounding the Colchester United future of Sammie Szmodics affect them - the man himself.

In his first interview since the closing of the window last week, Szmodics admitted there had been enquiries made in recent weeks from other clubs about a potential move away from the club he has been at since a young trainee.

However, a superb display - capped by a selfless assist and a goal for himself - in a wonderful 4-0 win at Northampton Town on Saturday showed the U's striker's head has definitely not been turned by talks of a departure.

“I wasn’t close to a move," said the 23-year-old.

“There were enquiries about me (from other clubs), but I leave all of that off-the-pitch stuff to my agent and I concentrate on playing.

“The last thing you want is to be side-tracked so I wasn’t disrupted by any of it.

“It can do if you let it, though.

“You have people talking about you, but I try not to let it affect my game at all.

“I’m a Colchester player and I’m playing for the club that I have supported all my life.

“I got another assist and goal at Northampton so that’s 11 now this year and I just want to crack on with this team and get us promoted.

“All the rumours and talk are done now.

“I’ve heard people asking ‘is he staying or is he going?’ but I don’t get involved.

“The agents speak to the club, so I keep well away from that because my job is to produce on the pitch and I felt I did that at Northampton."

As well as holding on to prize assets like Szmodics and Kane Vincent-Young, the U's had a strong finish to the January transfer window with the signing of Ben Stevenson from Wolves and loan additions of Shrewsbury's Abo Eisa and Callum Roberts from Newcastle.

All three made immediate impacts when either starting or stepping off the bench at Northampton and Szmodics said it was important for the club to have made additions in their push for League Two promotion this year.

He added: “We've had three great lads come in with Cal (Roberts) and Abs (Eisa) as fresh faces and Ben (Stevenson) as someone who we’ve played with before and we know his qualities.

“All three of them did fantastically well at Northampton.

“As the Gaffer (head coach John McGreal) said, having three new faces puts everyone on edge in training as everyone knows they have to step their game up.

“It just brings the whole standard up and from when they came in, we all looked sharper and we took that into the game at Northampton.

“When you are playing, you know the emphasis is on you to keep your shirt and look at our bench now, it’s so much stronger with those new boys coming in.

“Abs coming off the bench to score and Cal coming on and winning a penalty – the competition for places is there and it’s so healthy.

“If someone gets injured or drops out, you have someone equally as good to come in and fill their boots."