Luton Town loanee Joe Taylor in fine form for Colchester

But U’s boss Ben Garner believes there is still plenty more to come from their leading goalscorer.

Taylor has hit the net six times in his opening nine games for Colchester since joining them on a season-long loan from Premier League side Luton Town, averaging a goal every 123 minutes with a shot accuracy of 64 per cent.

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The 20-year-old striker also registered his first assist of the season last weekend when he supplied the pass for Samson Tovide to score what proved to be the U’s consolation goal, in their defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

Taylor is currently joint fourth in League Two’s top goalscorers list and Garner believes he is becoming a more complete player.

Garner said: “Joe’s done great.

“His goal return has been really good and that was probably the part that I was most confident in.

“I knew he was a goalscorer and I knew what he was going to offer, on that front.

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“The biggest positives for Joe and me in the last two or three weeks has been his development without the ball, tactically understanding the game, maturing as a person off the pitch.

“Those are the things that we’re offering here for Joe and he’s learning and credit to him for that.

“He’s certainly becoming a more complete player but for the level that his parent club is at, he’s got a long, long way to go and a lot to learn.

“That’s the reason he’s here, he’s hungry to do it and I’m really happy with him, so far.

“I still think there’s a lot, lot more to come from him.”

Meanwhile, U’s boss Garner insists the club’s young players are making his matchday squad on merit, this season.

The likes of Brad Ihionvien and Donell Thomas have been regulars on the bench for Colchester, while Matt Jay has missed out on being in the matchday squad for each of their last three league games.

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Garner said: “There’s a challenge here now for players and we’ve got a bit of competitiveness, not just to get on the pitch or on the bench but to get in the squad.

“We want that but everyone is on a level playing field, whether they’re an experienced player or a young player.

“It’s on merit and it’s on what’s right for that game.

“Just because the likes of Brad and Donell Thomas have been in the squad, if they don’t train well the following week or they drop their standards, they won’t be in the following squad.

“It’s a level playing field for everyone and there’s no grace here for the young players; just because you’re 18 or 19, it doesn’t mean you can have a bad week or you don’t turn up for a week.

“You’ve got to turn up and perform and drive standards.

“The pleasing thing at the moment is that all those young players are getting better.”