JACK Payne says he is pleased with the start he has made to life at Colchester United – but now wants to build on it.

The 29-year-old midfielder has impressed in the opening weeks of his U’s career after joining them from Charlton Athletic in the summer, after clocking up two goals and three assists.

Payne also played his part in Colchester’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley last weekend and the former Southend United youngster is enjoying life at his new club.

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Payne said: “To have five contributions in the first month, I’m pleased with that and I need to try and build on that now.

“Part of my job as a midfielder is to try and help the team with goals and assists.

“I’ve got more to my game and I need to try and help the team defensively and try and get on the ball.

“If I can chip in with goals and assists, I’ll do that as much as I can.

“It’s been really good so far.

“I’m really enjoying it, the lads are really good and everyone’s working really hard, players, managers, coaches, so I’m pleased to be here.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

“We’ve got a lot of quality and a good squad now.

“With the window closed now, everyone will have that clarity of who’s here and who isn’t – there’s a lot of good players in the squad now.”

Payne and his Colchester team-mates are now preparing for their home clash with Bromley, this weekend.

The U’s will be aiming to get back to winning ways at the JobServe Community Stadium following their 1-1 draw at Accrington, where Ben Goodliffe’s equaliser secured them a hard-earned point on the road.

“It was a difficult game,” added Payne, who spent last season on loan at MK Dons.

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“Throughout the season, there’s going to be times when you’re not quite at your best both individually and collectively and I think on those days, if you can pick up points that will take you a long way because on the days when you are at it, hopefully you’re picking up more points.

“We weren’t at our best, far from it so to come away from home with a point when you’ve not played your best, I supposed you’ve got to be quite happy with that.

“Accrington is far from an easy place to come to.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

“I’ve played there many times and it’s difficult to come away from there with anything, so to come away from there with a point is a good result in the end.

“They were very aggressive, very physical and we had to deal with that.

“We didn’t start the first half well enough and found ourselves a goal down.

“But we reacted a lot better in the second and Goody came on and got the goal, so we’ll take a point.

“He’s got some goal to game ratio and he picks the ball up and attacks it really well, so I’m really pleased for him.”