Colchester United's Noah Chilvers is a 'real inspiration'

That’s the view of sporting director Dmitri Halajko, who believes the U’s talented home-grown playmaker is thriving under the responsibility given to him by boss Ben Garner.

Chilvers, who finished as Colchester’s top scorer last season, has been named as the club’s vice-captain for the forthcoming campaign.

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The 22-year-old has been at the U’s since arriving at their academy at the age of nine years old and Halajko feels the attacking midfielder can be a positive role model for the club’s youth-team players.

Halajko said: “Noah’s been given a bit more responsibility under Ben and I think he’s thrived under that.

“He’s a great professional who loves the club and works really hard.

“He’s a local boy and he’s come through the academy, all the way through.

“To have players in your club behaving in the right way like Noah does. which the younger players can look up to, just helps the whole pathway.

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“It just gives those kids real inspiration and guidance of what it takes to be a professional footballer.”

Colchester are expecting more of their academy players to shine for their first team, this season.

The U’s led the way in the EFL for the most minutes clocked up by players aged 20 and under, in the 2023-24 campaign.

The likes of Chilvers, Junior Tchamadeu and Samson Tovide also provided more than 50 per cent of their goals and assists, in League Two.

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The likes of Bradley Ihionvien, Donell Thomas and Ronny Nelson have featured in pre-season and Halajko says a clear alliance exists at the club, from academy to senior level.

Halajko added: “The main thing that we’ve got at this club which is different from others is we’ve got alignment on youth development, right from the owner to the sporting director to the first-team head coach.

“There are so many football clubs that don’t understand it and get it wrong and don’t get a good return for their investment in trying to develop young talent.

“This football club has got that alignment and that understanding and that expertise, which then gives young talent the best possible chance to break into that first team if their attitude is right.

“If they’re good enough, they’ll certainly get a chance here.”