Australian international Con Blatsis, making his debut for injury- and illness-ravaged Colchester United, was happy to mark his return to first-team football with a win over QPR.
The former South Melbourne central defender, signed on a non-contract basis following his recent release by Premiership club Derby County, marked his first appearance for the U's on Saturday with the kind of man-of-the-match performance that could mean he won't be hanging around Layer Road too long.
Blatsis said: "As a footballer all I want to do is play first-team football and I didn't have too much of that at Derby.
"I thought my opportunity at Colchester had passed after playing in a reserve match against Luton a few weeks ago.
"The gaffer's ideas at the time were different then, but when I got the phone call that he wanted me I packed my bags and quickly made my way down here.
"It's nearly a year since I last played first team football. I trained with the lads on Thursday and Friday and we all worked very hard as a unit to beat Queens Park Rangers.
"Colchester is a club similar to South Melbourne back home in Australia.
"But Aussie football is going through a bit of a hard time at the moment and it's difficult to get a contract back home.
"I am playing for my future in England now."
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Published Monday, March 18, 2002
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