BRANDON Comley has started more games for club and country than anyone else in the Colchester United squad so far, this season.

But despite experiencing a hectic opening months of the campaign, the cultured midfielder insists he would not have it any other way.

Comley has established himself as a regular in John McGreal's starting line-up this season, making 19 appearances in total.

And he has combined that with playing on a frequent basis for Montserrat, as they strive for Gold Cup qualification.

Comley's involvement on both the domestic and international front is in stark contrast with last season, where he managed only five league starts for the U's.

So perhaps it is no wonder really why the former QPR youngster is relishing his repeated game time, over recent months.

Comley said: “For me, it’s been a surreal season compared to last year where I couldn’t really buy a game, if I’m being honest.

“I’m just relishing it and trying to make the most of it, because you never know when anything can happen.

“I’m just trying to make sure that my body is ready, make sure I’m focused, make sure I’m performing and just giving the team everything every week.

“There’s been a lot of travelling and a lot of games for myself.

“It’s been a hard graft but you look after yourself.

“You get your sleep and your fluids back and you just rest up and that’s what I’ve been doing."

Comley and his Colchester team-mates return to action tomorrow night after a ten-day fixture break when they host Stevenage in the Leasing.com Trophy.

It will be their first competitive action since they drew 1-1 at Cheltenham Town, on November 23.

“I felt alright at Cheltenham but I’m glad that we've a bit of a rest to get my sleep back in and get back on the bandwagon," said Comley, who has scored twice for the U's this season.

“But personally, I just like to keep playing and performing and to keep going.

“I don’t like stopping and whenever I come back (from international duty) and I don’t play, it’s a frustrating one for me.

“But I understand why the gaffer does it and I understand that it’s best for the team.

“Ultimately, I’m a team player and I like to see the team do well – if the team does well then that means I do well.

“We’ve got our rest and recuperation in, going into the Stevenage game."

Comley has played his part in helping Montserrat keep their hopes of Gold Cup qualification alive.

The Emerald Boys beat St Lucia 1-0 in their Concacaf Nations League Group B finale last month to finish second and claim a qualifying spot.

Comley added: “It was a crazy one, to be fair.

“It came down to the last game – a defeat and we were getting relegated, a draw and we were staying in that league and a win would get us through to the next stage, where you play a back to back game and play another team from the league above and hopefully, get to the Gold Cup.

“Luckily enough, we won the game and the result in the other game went our way.

“At the end of it, it was all smiling and happy.

“It’s so surreal – we’ve only got 5,000 people left on the island.

“Nobody thought that a small, small island like ours would actually progress and it just shows the passion and the spirit that we’ve got in the camp, where a lot of our boys know each other.

“We get on really well and that can drive you through and see you into good places."