COLCHESTER United have re-signed winger Callum Harriott on a free transfer to boost their League Two promotion push.

The 25-year-old winger, who spent four months on loan with the U’s during the 2015-16 season making 23 appearances and scoring seven goals, has been without a club since leaving Championship club Reading at the end of the last campaign.

Harriott played against Colchester for former club Charlton Athletic in a pre-season friendly, in July - and he has now put pen to paper for the U’s after signing a two-year deal until the summer of 2021, subject to paperwork clearance from the relevant bodies.

Colchester head coach John McGreal said: “It was flagged up by Robbie (Cowling) and recruitment over the weekend and I think the deal was done (on Wednesday).

“I was with the under-23s when Callum was here last time but you knew of him, because his stats were off the wall.

“He was scoring goals and if not that, he was assisting with goals.

“He got a move to Reading shortly afterwards; he’s had a couple of injuries which he’s trying to get through now.

“He wants to get back to playing football again and that’s the big thing for him.

“If we get a fit Callum Harriott playing the way we know, he’ll be an excellent signing.

“When he was here, he was very, very good – I think we were in division one as well, at that time.

“It’s about him coming into it, seeing what his fitness levels are like and seeing where he is.

“He was at Charlton in pre-season getting game time and getting fit and I think he put in an appearance against us in pre-season, as well.”