SAMMIE Szmodics paid a pre-season visit to his former club Colchester United to wish them well for the new campaign.

Szmodics ended his 16-year association with the U's when he left them to join Championship side Bristol City, in June.

But the talented 23-year-old was back at Florence Park last week to see his former manager John McGreal, along with his ex-U's team-mates.

Szmodics told Bristol Live: "We had Sunday and Monday off and I went into the training ground just to see the gaffer and my pals.

"I joined there when I was six/seven so had a good 15 years at that club and I owe everything to them; the manager and team-mates that I've had.

"A lot of my best mates still play for Colchester so it was nice to go in and see them and wish them well for the season.

"We didn't get promotion last season, a bit like Bristol City we just missed out but I'm hoping this is the year for them and they can get promoted.

"They've got a great gaffer in John McGreal and assistant in Steve Ball and I owe a lot to the both of them and a huge amount to the whole club."

Szmodics left Colchester in June, signing a three-year deal with the Robins.

The 23-year-old scored 40 goals in 165 career games for the U's, having progressed through their academy.

Szmodics was an unused substitute in Bristol City's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Leeds United, in their opening Championship game of the season.