DANNY Cowley has praised Milton Oni after the teenager enjoyed a professional debut to remember for Colchester United.

The 18-year-old midfielder scored one of the U's penalties in their shoot-out win over Reading in the Carabao Cup, having come on as a second-half substitute in the first-round tie along with fellow youngster, Frankie Terry.

It was academy product Oni's first taste of senior action for Colchester, having impressed for them in pre-season and signed his first professional contract with them in June.

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And boss Cowley said he had full confidence in Oni, after selecting him as one of his penalty takers in the shoot-out win over the Royals.

Cowley said: "It's such a privilege to be a professional footballer.

"You think about all of the millions of people that love the game and play the game - to be a professional footballer is so prestigious and I never give the players the opportunity to play professional football unless they deserve it.

"Young Frankie Terry and Milton Oni so deserve it by the way they've worked all the way through pre-season.

"For Milton to show the belief and the character to put that penalty away was wonderful.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

"We said to Milton he was taking one, because he practises them a lot at the end of training, he takes them for the 18s and sometimes, you just have to believe in the young players.

"He said his legs felt like jelly but it didn't look like it!

"I thought he was very composed.

"For the young players to step up with the level of conviction that they did...I'd like to add all their ages up as I think all five of them together would have made my age!"

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Cowley felt Colchester's fans played their part in helping their team get over the line against Reading.

The Carabao Cup tie was the first of four successive home games for the U's, after they were drawn against Premier League side Brentford in the second round of the competition.

"I always like my teams to play with energy and enthusiasm," added Cowley.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

"It's the greatest game in the world so if you can't be energetic and you can't be enthusiastic, then you won't play in my team.

"I thought the crowd were great and really got involved in the game.

"We need them, because we want to play like that and it does take a lot of energy.

"We need them to really fuel the players."