COLCHESTER United have snapped up experienced midfielder Sam Saunders on a free transfer ahead of today’s game at Cambridge United.

The 35-year-old, who was without a club, has signed for the U’s until the end of the season and was named among the substitutes for their game against Cambridge, at the Abbey Stadium.

Saunders was at Charlton Athletic and Fulham as a youngster but emerged through non-league football and made more than 100 appearances for Dagenham and Redbridge between 2005 and 2009.

He then moved onto Brentford where he spent eight seasons, making 170 appearances at Griffin Park.

Saunders then spent four years at Wycombe and has been a free agent since January, when his contract with the Chairboys was cancelled by mutual consent.

The midfielder has played against Colchester on a number of occasions in the past and scored against them back in April, 2011 when playing for Brentford.

Colchester have moved to bolster their squad, following a spate of midfield injuries.

Harry Pell, Brandon Comley and Louis Dunne are all sidelined, while Tom Lapslie is still coming back from a hamstring injury.