NOAH Chilvers made a huge impact in what was his breakthrough season at Colchester United, last year.

The 20-year-old was the U's stand-out player, in what was a testing campaign for everyone at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Chilvers' contribution was acknowledged in the shape of his receipt of three end-of-season accolades - Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Goal of the Season.

The midfielder's talent on the pitch was there for all to see, as was his positive mindset and focus in difficult times.

It is that kind of strong mentality which is serving him well now, as he finds himself battling for a starting spot with the U's.

"I think every player will say that it's frustrating when you're not starting," said Chilvers, who has started four of Colchester's opening ten league games so far, this season.

"But you can't sulk - which is easy to do at times and I want to sometimes - you have to think 'what can I do when I come on here and how can I affect the game'.

"I think I did that when I came on at Tranmere so hopefully, that's done enough for me to be in the starting XI on Saturday.

"It's been frustrating at times and obviously I want to play every game.

"But it's just about when I get the chance, just showing the gaffer what I can do and try and get back in the team on a more consistent basis.

"I came in for the Salford game which didn't really go to plan for the team but I felt I did well and affected the game when I came on at Tranmere the other day.

"I want to start, do well and get a run of games and hopefully, chip in with goals.

"Hopefully I can do that - that's the plan.

"Whenever I'm called upon and wherever I'm playing, I'm just trying to do the best I can for the team, for the fans, for myself.

"That's what I'm going to keep doing and hopefully, get a decent run in the team."

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Chilvers' talent was there for all to see in the 2020-21 season, as he made 36 league starts for Colchester - only Tom Eastman and Tommy Smith of the club's outfield players made more.

But the U's academy product is still striving to get better, in areas of his game.

He said: "I look at my own clips from games and things that I can improve on.

"I think it's something that you can do as any player.

"I'm only a young player and the plan is just to keep improving.

"You have to keep doing what you can on the training pitch and improving on different things."

Colchester head into their home game against Harrogate Town tomorrow, hoping to end a four-match winless run which has also seen them fail to score.

The U's are looking to register their first league victory of the season, at the Community Season.

Chilvers said: "I'm a football fan myself and there's only so much you can say.

"We can say be patient and that it'll come but as players, we've got to produce and there's got to come a point when it happens.

"Hopefully, that'll be this weekend.

"We're all confident it'll come and the more you score, the more confident you get.

"We've got a lot of threats and it's about finding the best way to bring them all out, who works best together, things like that.

"Training has been really bubbly all week, which is normal.

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"I know it's been a bad last few performances but we're all confident that we can turn it around but it's only early days.

"Last year, we started well and ended up not doing so well towards the end.

"Hopefully we can do the opposite this season, starting this weekend and get a little run going.

"That's all it takes - if you look at the table, it's early days and there's only a matter of points from the bottom to the top.

"If we can get a good run going, we can get ourselves up there where we want to be.

"Last year, we didn't win an away game for a number of months and this year, we haven't started so well at home.

"We've just go to look at it as a game of football, whether it's home or away.

"We'll just keep going and keep doing what we think we'll bring us success and once it does, we'll be even more confident of going on a run.

"Harrogate have been doing well recently but we back ourselves to beat anyone put in front of us.

"Hopefully that will start this weekend and we can start building on our home form.

"We're looking to try and make the JobServe a fortress and win some games there."