TOM Lapslie is keen to make up for lost time after returning from injury – by helping Colchester United begin 2021 with a winning run.

The 25-year-old made his first start for the U’s in more than a year after playing the full 90 minutes in their 0-0 draw with Cheltenham Town, on Tuesday night.

Lapslie underwent knee surgery in the summer which caused him to miss the opening months of the season.

But after returning as a substitute in the U’s Boxing Day derby at Southend United, the combative midfielder started his first game since last December against Cheltenham.

And having come through that unscathed, Lapslie is now aiming to kick on in the New Year with the U’s.

“I’m delighted to be back and try and help the boys,” said Lapslie.

“I’ve been missing it a lot and it’s been tough to watch as I’m not a very good watcher!

“There’s a lot to look forward to for us, in 2021.

“There’s nothing to stop us from going on a run.

“We’ve turned around the run of defeats and got a point on the board.

“We’ve got a good opportunity on Saturday being at home again to try and get three points and get back to winning ways.

“Listen, we can go on winning runs – we’ve done that over the last few years and when you do that, you don’t feel like you’re going to lose games.

“Let’s hope that will happen sooner, rather than later.”

It has been a frustrating period for Lapslie, who had managed little more than an hour’s worth of competitive football in 2020 prior to returning at Southend, last weekend.

He underwent a knee operation in February which left him sidelined until he returned earlier this month, only to suffer a hamstring injury which halted his progress.

Lapslie said: “I knew in February that I needed an operation.

“I didn’t want to miss the season and my plan was to ride out the season, hopefully get in the play-offs and then get it done then.

“The world changed after that and things like appointments went by the wayside, which is absolutely right because there’s a serious thing going on in the world and credit to all of the people working in that industry, because they’re all doing a hell of a job.

“I ended up delaying it and delaying my operation until after the play-offs and we were able to get appointments in hospitals.

“I came back but unfortunately in the last second against Crawley, I injured my hamstring.

“Touch wood, it’s all good now and I’m just happy to be back.”