ANTHONY Scully is in line to make his first start in Colchester United colours tonight.

And the on-loan Portsmouth striker is ‘chomping at the bit’ to make an impact for his new club.

That’s the view of U’s boss Danny Cowley, who says Scully has impressed in training since joining them on transfer deadline day.

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Scully came agonisingly close to scoring his first Colchester goal when his effort crashed against the woodwork in the closing stages of the 3-3 draw at Morecambe, last weekend.

The 25-year-old could make his first start for the U’s when they host MK Dons in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy tonight and boss Cowley says the striker is keen to do well.

Cowley said: “Anthony’s chomping at the bit.

“He’s trained really well with a real spark.

“He’s been starved of football really and although he’s had a full pre-season, he hasn’t played regular games.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

“But he’s trained every day and physically, I think he’s in a good place and now we’ve just got to give him the game time to do his thing.

“His energy and enthusiasm was so obvious and clear when we spoke to him and we think we’ve got him at a really good point.

“He’s someone that we know well from his West Ham days and he did brilliantly at Lincoln City as well.

“Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out at Wigan and Portsmouth and sometimes that can happen.

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“He hasn’t been able to get a rhythm, he’s had some injuries, a new-born baby, lots of change in his life and as well, big clubs and sometimes when you can’t get a rhythm you can get into a queue of players.

“But as a consequence of all the frustrations that he’s lived, he’s so eager to do well and he’s a really good player that loves football and these are all of the qualities that we like.”

Cowley is set to make changes to his starting line-up tonight for the Southern Group E opener, at the JobServe Community Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Along with Scully, the likes of Fiacre Kelleher, Tom Hopper and Aaron Donnelly are all hoping to start for the U’s.