Colchester United's highly-rated wizard of dribble Lomana Tresor Lua Lua is ready to dance all the way to the Premiership.

But as he continues to flit in and out of the team, he also warned there have been many times this season when he has "felt like packing up."

Another outstanding cameo display in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at high-flying Bristol Rovers is certain to have the big money vultures circling overhead for his signature.

The talented Layer Road teenager said his skills were all down to the rhythm and movement of his African roots.

"It's the African music I used to dance to back home as a kid," said Lua Lua after thrilling home and away fans alike with his magic after coming on as a second-half substitute at the Memorial Stadium.

"It all comes so naturally to me," he said, gyrating his hips and swaying rhythmically back and forth in an impromptu demonstration of the magical touches that are making him a big target for a host of top Premiership clubs.

"I believe to be a good dribbler a player must have rhythm and good balance. Our music and dance in my early days back home in Africa have given me that and now I must learn more about football and start to know just how far in this game I can go."

Lua Lua is certainly not overawed by all the attention from the big clubs, or the speculative transfer fees that could be placed on his head.

U's manager Steve Whitton insisted yet again his up-and-coming super star was "not for sale at any price."

Lua Lua said: "Money is not the issue at the moment although of course I want to play in the Premiership one day.

"My main objective now is to win back my place in the first team and play from the start. It does my head in sometimes just being a substitute.

"Sure I have bad games, but everyone has them - I can't understand why I keep getting dropped.

"Sometimes I feel like just packing up."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.