Jamie Cureton has turned Colchester United into a lean mean fighting machine.

That is the verdict of injury-stricken striker Marino Keith, who wants to see the on-loan hot-shot extend his stay further at Layer Road this season.

Keith, who is still plagued by an ongoing Achilles problem, is delighted to see Cureton banging in the goals for the U's since joining from Swindon on loan.

But even though he creates competition for places when Keith is fit and raring to go, the 31-year-old is well aware that Colchester's current rich vein of form - which has seen them move up to sixth in the Coca-Cola League One table - has a lot to do with Cureton.

Keith told the Gazette: "Jamie's definitely been the difference to where we were in the bottom-half of the League when he joined to where we are now.

"Here's hoping he extends his stay beyond the two months."

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Published Thursday, December 8, 2005

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