COLCHESTER United have made their fair share of successful loan signings, over the years.

The likes of Michail Antonio, George Moncur, Jacob Murphy and Sam Walker are all examples of loanees who have shone for the U's, over recent years.

But Martell Taylor-Crossdale's premature departure from the JobServe Community Stadium yesterday after his season-long loan spell from Fulham was cut short early served as a reminder that sometimes, things just don't work out for both parties.

The young striker managed 25 minutes of action for U's, before returning to the Premier League club.

Following Taylor-Crossdale's departure, U's director of football Tony Humes told the club's website: "It sometimes happens that loan spells don't go the way we all want them to and this was one of those occasions."

But at the age of 20 years old, Taylor-Crossdale still hopefully has a long and fruitful career in front of him.

And there are plenty of examples of young players whose U's loan spells have not worked out but have gone on to enjoy successful careers, at a higher level.

Here are five Colchester loan signings from the last decade who have shone, after struggling to make an impact at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Jack Marriott

Marriott spent two months on loan at Colchester from Ipswich Town, between January and March 2015.

The striker was just 20 years old when he arrived at the U's, with only limited league experience to count on.

Marriott managed just five league substitute appearances for Colchester during his loan spell, scoring once.

But the 26-year-old has enjoyed a profitable career, since then.

Currently on loan with Sheffield Wednesday from fellow Championship side Derby County, he is now closing in on 100 career goals.

Glen Kamara

Kamara was at Colchester for four months on loan from Arsenal, in the 2016-17 season.

Having previously played on loan at the U's Essex rivals Southend United, he came to the U's at the age of 20 looking for more game experience.

But Kamara managed only four league appearances - and one start - for the U's before returning to Arsenal.

The midfielder has since gone from strength to strength, though.

Having left Arsenal in the summer of 2017, he has flourished under Steven Gerrard at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers featuring in their Old Firm win over Celtic last weekend and is also a regular for his country, Finland.

Kemar Roofe

Roofe spent just four weeks at Colchester, joining them on loan from West Bromwich Albion in the middle of the 2014-15 season.

Indeed, he totalled barely 30 minutes of league football for the U's, before returning to the Baggies.

However, Roofe went onto flourish for Oxford United, earning himself a £3million move to Leeds United, in 2016.

And after flourishing at Elland Road and after a brief stint at Anderlecht, he moved to Glasgow Rangers three years later for a fee of £4.5m and is still currently with the Scottish giants.

Dominic Samuel

Samuel spent a month on loan at Colchester from Reading, after being signed by Joe Dunne in the 2012-13 season.

At the age of 18, he had limited experience and managed only two starts for the U's before returning to the Madejski Stadium.

A number of other loan spells followed for the striker before he moved to Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2017.

Samuel made more than 50 league appearances at Ewood Park before joining League One side Gillingham last month, where he has already scored two goals in his first four league appearances for the Kent club.

Matthias Vilhjalmsson

The Icelandic striker was 23 years old when he joined Colchester on loan from Hafnarfjarðar in January 2011, after initially impressing John Ward on trial.

But he was rarely seen in U's colours and after three substitute appearances for the club, he departed at the end of the campaign.

Since then, Vilhjalmsson has enjoyed a fruitful career, including earning 15 caps for Iceland at international level.

He played for Rosenborg for four seasons, making more than a century of appearances and appearing in the Champions League against the likes of Celtic and featuring against teams such as Lazio and RB Leipzig, in the Europa League.