Kemal Izzet is hoping to step out of the Layer Road shadows back into Colchester United's first-team squad for tomorrow's Coca-Cola League One clash with Port Vale.

The eager former Charlton Athletic midfielder is fully fit again after a plague of summer injuries and now he cannot wait to put on his boots and get cracking again.

But, having missed the opening 13 League and cup games of the season, Izzet is well aware he has a tough fight on his hands to win back his place in the U's starting line-up.

"I'm fully fit again and raring to go," he told the Gazette.

"But the best I can hope for right now is a place on the substitutes' bench in readiness to seize my chance if it comes along."