WHEN Colchester United drafted in a host of senior players for their first-team squad in the summer, it represented something of a change of direction for the club's recruitment.

The arrival of the likes of Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Charlie Daniels was arguably a change in tact by the U's, who over recent years have heavily invested in their academy.

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But rather than replace the club's long-established philosophy of nuturing talented young players and giving them a clear pathway to first-team football, it has instead complemented it.

And the professionalism and experience of those seasoned pros is starting to bear fruition at Colchester, on the pitch.

It seems as though, unsurprisingly, those senior players are also having an influence off the pitch, too.

"I think it was a really thoughtful strategy," said Colchester's academy manager Dave Huzzey, speaking ahead of the U's big FA Youth Cup third-round tie with Arsenal tonight.

"We want to produce young players but they need role models.

"They did have that last year but this year, if you look at the likes of Tommy Smith who was here last year as well, Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse, Frank Nouble, who was here last year.

"These sort of role models are invaluable to the players and we've seen a real uplift in professionalism around the place.

"They're having a massive impact and I think that's down to the recruitment we've made with those senior pros.

"Something we spoke about last year was making sure that we got coaches within first-team sessions.

"What I mean by that is Cole Skuse coaching someone like Gene Kennedy, Alan Judge for Chay Cooper, is invaluable.

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"We use Luke Chambers (pictured above) a lot now for Harry Beadle.

"The other day, I saw Luke sitting down with Harry and Frankie Terry, going through their clips with them.

"That sort of environment and relationship with the older pros who have been there and done it and are still doing it is only going to help these young players.

"We as coaches have been tapping into it, probably too much as we're always wanting them to give their opinions! But they've always said 'yes' to it.

"I think the way that the chairman (Robbie Cowling) backs the academy is excellent and gives us a real chance.

“The way that Hayden (Mullins) and Alex (Dyer) trust young players gives us a real chance and it just makes my job easy and hard.

“It’s easy because there’s an opportunity and I can sell that to the players that we’re signing at under-nines that we’re giving those opportunities but hard, because we have to fill those opportunities.

“That’s credit to the staff, people like Liam Bailey, Adam Lewis, Richard Hall and James McFarlane, who has helped me with the eights to 16s programme and putting that syllabus together.

“The opportunities are there and I think we have the right people in place to make sure that we fill those opportunities."

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Colchester's under-18s, coached by Liam Bailey (pictured above), take on the Gunners in the FA Youth Cup at the JobServe Community Stadium (kick-off 7pm), looking to progress to the fourth round.

Colchester beat Swindon 2-0 to make it through to tonight’s game having previously beaten Bugbrooke St Michaels. 8-1.

“I’m really pleased with how the Academy is going this season," added Huzzey.

“Our job as coaches isn’t to win football matches on a Tuesday night in the Premier League Cup, it’s to get players into the first team and the fact that the likes of Junior Tchamadeu, Noah Chilvers, Ryan Clampin, Samson Tovide, Gene Kennedy and Chay Cooper have been playing for the first team is the real success for this academy.

“That’s something we’ve always done and I’m looking at the batch of players we have from 17s to 19s and 20s and I’m really excited about it.

“It could be a real positive and I think that goes for everybody in the Academy.

“I’m really pleased and I think it’s a really positive place to be at the moment.

“It’s a really good fixture for us in the FA Youth Cup and a great opportunity for the young boys to play in the stadium again.”