COLCHESTER United have had their fair share of loanees, over the last decade.

Some of the signings have been more productive than others - and some have been a revelation.

The Gazette's U's sports writer Jon Waldron takes a look at the big impact some of the U's best loanees have made over the last ten years.

DANNY BATTH (WOLVES) - JULY 2009-AUGUST 2010

THE young centre-half arrived at Colchester in the summer of 2009, having been signed on a season-long loan from Wolves.

At 18 years old, Danny Batth was handed his professional debut by Aidy Boothroyd in the U's 2-0 win over Hartlepool United.

He went on to make 18 appearances for the U's before returning to Wolves where he enjoyed a stellar career, playing more than 200 games at Molineux over a ten-year period.

Since leaving Wolves in January 2019, Batth has played for Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough in the Championship.

Now 29 years old, he is currently plying his trade for Stoke City.

DAVID MOONEY (READING) - AUGUST 2010-MAY 2011

DAVID Mooney had already had loan spells for the likes of Stockport County, Norwich City and Charlton Athletic, prior to arriving at Colchester in the summer of 2010.

The Irishman proved a skilful addition under John Ward and scored 14 times, during the course of the campaign.

In the summer of 2011, Mooney left Reading and joined Leyton Orient where he clocked up more than 150 appearances and scored more than 50 goals in his first spell.

He later played for Southend United, before returning to the O's in the latter part of his career.

MICHAIL ANTONIO (READING) - AUGUST 2011-NOVEMBER 2011

MICHAIL Antonio was only at Colchester for three months - but made a big impression during that time.

The winger made 16 league and cup appearances for the U's as a fresh-faced 21-year-old and lit up League One with his attacking flair and skill.

Antonio has gone on to have a fantastic career and is now showing off his skills for West Ham United in the Premier League, having joined them from Nottingham Forest for £7m in September, 2015.

FREDDIE SEARS (WEST HAM UNITED) - JANUARY 2012-MAY 2012

FREDDIE Sears made a favourable impression for Colchester after joining them on loan from West Ham United in January, 2012.

Having already scored on his Premier League debut for the Hammers, the striker made 11 appearances and scored twice for John Ward's side, after joining the U's.

The move was made permanent by Colchester in the summer of 2012 and he made nearly 100 appearances for the U's after that, scoring 34 times.

Sears left Colchester in January 2015 to join Ipswich Town, where he has gone on to play nearly 200 league and cup matches.

BRADLEY GARMSTON (WEST BROMWICH ALBION) - JANUARY 2013-JULY 2013

LIKE some of the other loanees featuring in this article, Bradley Garmston made his professional debut for the U's after joining them on loan.

With his pace from full-back, he shone under Joe Dunne and played his part in helping the U's stay in League One.

Having not made a senior appearance for West Brom, the defender moved on to Gillingham and is currently playing for Grimsby Town and played against the U's, earlier this season.

SAM WALKER (CHELSEA) - JANUARY-APRIL 2013; JULY 2013-MAY 2014

SAM Walker arrived at the JobServe Community Stadium from Chelsea in the 2013 January transfer window, having been signed by Joe Dunne.

The lofty shot-stopper had already had loan experience at the likes of Barnet and Northampton but made quite an impression with the U's.

Walker had two separate loan spells with Colchester before joining them permanently in May, 2014.

After making nearly 250 league and cup appearances for the U's, he left in the summer of 2018 to join Championship club Reading where he is currently plying his trade.

LUKE GARBUTT (EVERTON) - SEPTEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014

LUKE Garbutt had already enjoyed a productive loan spell at Cheltenham Town by the time he arrived at Colchester on loan from Premier League side Everton in the 2013-14 season.

He flourished for Joe Dunne's side, playing 20 times and scoring three goals including a superb strike in the U's 1-1 draw at Preston North End.

Now 26, left-sided player Garbutt is now on Everton's books but has since had loan spells at Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Oxford United and Ipswich Town, where he is currently plying his trade.

BONGANI KHUMALO (SPURS) - MARCH 2015-MAY 2015

COLCHESTER United were in deep relegation trouble when Bongani Khumalo arrived on loan at Colchester United from Spurs.

The South African centre-back was a rock at the heart of the U's defence, helping the U's avoid the drop in dramatic fashion on the final day of the League One season.

Khumalo played ten games for Colchester in 2015, before returning to South Africa that summer.

CALLUM HARRIOTT (CHARLTON ATHLETIC) - AUGUST 2015-JANUARY 2016

CALLUM Harriott is now back at Colchester on a permanent basis - but it was his excellent loan spell for the U's back in the 2015-16 season that really won the hearts of the club's fans.

The winger shone in what was otherwise a disappointing season for Tony Humes' side, in League One.

Harriott made 23 league and cup appearances for the U's during his loan spell, scoring seven times.

He returned to Charlton before joining Reading in the summer of 2016, where he stayed for three years.

Harriott joined Colchester on a permanent basis last August and has this season being trying to help them return to League One.

THEO ROBINSON (SOUTHEND UNITED) - AUGUST 2019-PRESENT

COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal was looking to bolster his attacking options when he brought in the experienced Theo Robinson from Southend United.

The striker was down the pecking order at Roots Hall when he arrived at the U's but hit the ground running and to date, has scored 12 goals in 20 league and cup appearances so far.

Robinson had previously played for the likes of Derby County, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City, prior to joining the U's from Southend where he is out of contract this summer.