BRADLEY Ihionvien admitted that the Cowley brothers are helping him in a ‘different way’ after he netted a brace in Colchester United's friendly win over Cambridge United, writes BEN MCCARTHY.
The 20-year-old striker scored twice inside the first ten minutes and aided the U's towards a thumping 6-0 victory.
Ihionvien emphatically scored the opener inside three minutes, after getting on the right end of a promising Jack Payne free-kick.
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He then doubled the U’s lead with yet another header, this time converting from six yards, following some immense build-up play from John-Kymani Gordon.
Ihionvien then set up Tom Hopper’s goal later on in the first half and was a sheer nuisance for the Cambridge defence, down the left-hand attacking side.
Following the full-time whistle, Ihionvien was seen in conversation with Nicky Cowley, for an elongated amount of time.
Even once he had started speaking to the press, the young striker's conversation with the U’s assistant head coach had not left his mind.
Ihionvien said: “In my career, a lot of people have helped me, in a lot of different ways.
"I feel that Danny Cowley and Nicky Cowley are just new people who have helped me in a different way.
“I was having a conversation with Nicky, he’s helped me in a way that I didn’t realise. It really helped me out.
"The gaffer is doing the running with the players now. Those little things help me as a player, and for someone who is as emotional as I am, it really helps me.”
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Ihionvien made his professional debut in August 2023 and netted his first senior goal for Colchester, in the same month.
Pressed on what he feels now, in comparison to 12 months ago, he responded: “It’s clearly been a big progression. I feel like I was in a good place [at the beginning of the last season], I feel like I’m in a better place now.”
Then asked by CU-FC.COM on fitness levels, ahead of the new campaign, Ihionvien said: “You don’t know how the game is going to go once the season starts.
"So, it’s just about being able to do [the] 90 [minutes] and put yourself through that strenuous exercise through the whole game."
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