Colchester United midfielder Arthur Read rises to challenge

The 23-year-old has made an impressive start to the new season for the U’s, having finished the previous campaign strongly.

Read build up a useful midfield partnership with Ossama Ashley for Colchester, in the final weeks of last season.

READ MORE: Ben Garner admits U's need a stronger mindset

But following Ashley’s exit to League Two rivals Salford City, there is arguably now more emphasis placed on Read’s role.

The former Stevenage midfielder is stepping up to the plate following a man-of-the-match display at Walsall last weekend and says he is happy to rise to the challenge.

Read said: “In the last two games especially, I think I’ve got back to the levels that I was at, towards the end of last season.

“The first three games for me I think were about a build-up of fitness but now I feel 100 per cent.

“Hopefully, I can play a full season and it can be a successful one.

READ MORE: Colchester's youngsters lose out to Ipswich in PDL Cup opener

“I did really enjoy playing with (Ossama) Ashley because me and him worked well.

“He’d do more of the dirty work and then give it to me and Chily (Noah Chilvers) a bit more.

“I think I’ve got to take that responsibility on.

“I’ve heard the new player that’s come in is similar to him (Ashley), so maybe that helps.

“Last week, I was the third oldest player in the team and at 23, I did not think I’d ever be saying that – I thought I’d still be one of the youngsters.

“I think it’s something I’ve got to take on and see it as a new challenge.

“I hope the manager trusts me and I like having that responsibility.

“I want to prove that I can play at this level and a lot higher.”

READ MORE: Owen Goodman receives international call-up

Read was singled out for praise by boss Ben Garner, following his impressive performance against Walsall.

But the ex-Luton Town youngster admits he would have gladly swapped any individual compliments for a U’s victory.

“It’s obviously nice that the manager said nice words about me…but I’d rather play rubbish and win, to be honest,” said Read.

“This is a game (Walsall) where you need to get three points; I expect to win and obviously we haven’t.

“Maybe our mindset, maybe a lot of things contributed to the performance.

“In large spells of the game, it was nowhere near the same as Gillingham.

“We’re a very young squad, I think that doesn’t help – not many of the boys in the team have played at this level before.

“I think we have to appreciate that it’s going to take time getting used to and there’s probably only a handful of us who have played over 100 games.

“It’s going to take them time and they’re going to need to do it as quickly as possible, because we need to win.

“But I think once it gets going, we can see more performances and results like Gillingham.

READ MORE: Transitional U's must quickly find their identity

“I think it’s about controlling your emotions really.

“You can never really get too high or too low – you have to stay at that middle ground and I think that comes with experience and I don’t know if you can get that without playing games or going through it.

“I suppose it is just part of the learning process.

“At times, we’ve played some really nice football.

“We cut them open a few times but we didn’t really have that cutting edge, towards the end.

“We had a few chances but I think at the end of the day, they kind of played League Two better than us, which is obviously a massive thing in this league.

“They knocked it out and did things properly, they were solid, showed experience and I think that’s probably something that we’re missing.”

READ MORE: Former Colchester forward signs deal with League One club

Meanwhile, Read is backing his former U’s team-mate Junior Tchamadeu to shine at his new club Stoke City.

The 19-year-old left Colchester on deadline day to join the Potters on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

Read added: “Congratulations to Junior – I’m buzzing for him.

“He’s definitely one of my best friends in the team who I’ll keep in touch with and he deserves it massively.

“He had an unbelievable season last year, so I hope he does well, which I believe he will.”