FRANK Nouble insists he is willing to play anywhere he is asked by Colchester United.

The 29-year-old led the line for Steve Ball’s side in his return appearance for the U’s at Leyton Orient, last weekend.

Nouble has previously made no secret of the fact that his favoured position is the number nine role, having played in a wide attacking position in the majority of his first spell at the club.

But after returning to the JobServe Community Stadium on loan from Plymouth Argyle until the end of the season, the former West Ham United youngster says he is happy to play wherever he is asked.

Nouble said: “I’ve come back to play wherever the manager wants me to play.

“People who have watched me play here know that I can play anywhere.

“I’m ready to go out there and produce for the team.

“The loan is until the end of the season and then we just go from there really.

“I want to play good football and play as much as I can and then see what the summer brings.

“The summer is going to be a big one for us again.

“Hopefully, we can establish ourselves down here again and see what Robbie (Cowling) wants to do in the summer.”

Nouble rejoined Colchester on loan last week, having departed the JobServe Community Stadium last summer.

Along with Ryan Jackson, Luke Prosser and Brandon Comley, the experienced forward was told he would not be offered a new contract due to the club’s financial restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nouble, who made nearly 100 league and cup appearances for the U’s during his first spell with the club, has returned to a club who have now failed to win in their last ten matches.

But after coming agonisingly close to scoring in his first game back when his header bounced down off the underside off the bar and onto the line against Leyton Orient, the striker is confident that they can turn things around.

“The boys started on fire this year; they’re going through a spell but every team does that and we can get out of it on Saturday,” said Nouble.

“We went on a bad run with Plymouth this season and I think we lost six in a row but now that’s all forgotten about – win a couple of games and you’re out of it and they’re a few points off the play-offs now.

“We can do that here, hopefully starting on Saturday or whenever that first win comes and hopefully that will be sooner, rather than later and we can kick-start the season.

“I had a great time here and we had a great year, last year.

“Ending it with Covid wasn’t great but overall, it was a great year so hopefully me coming back can bring some sort of spark.”

Nouble made 12 starts and 12 substitute appearances for Plymouth in League One, after joining them last summer.

But he found himself out of the Pilgrims’ starting line-up prior to leaving Home Park and his last league start for Ryan Lowe’s side came against Crewe, on December 15.

Nouble added: “I really enjoyed it there.

“If I’m honest, I didn’t want to leave but in the times we’re living in now, it’s so important to keep playing, be on the pitch and try and enjoy your football as much as possible.

“I’m an older pro now and I think it’s got to a place where I wasn’t playing as much as I wanted to and I felt like I deserved to play.

“I never fell out with the manager or anything like that – he was really good with me and now I find myself back here with Bally who’s the gaffer now – so I’ve got to call him gaffer now!”