Sears feels he is ready to rejoin Colchester United's starting line-up

While it will be manager Joe Dunne who makes the final decision what part the former West Ham striker plays in today's League One game against Gillingham at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Sears says he is raring to go.

The 24-year-old has finally put months of injury torment behind him and is happy to play whatever role he can against the Kent side.

He told the Gazette: “I think I’m ready (to start), but it’s up to the manager whether he does.

“Maybe I’ll be on the bench but I’ll be ready either way.

“Starting would be better because you don’t have to warm-up during the game and can just go as long as you can.

“But whatever I’m asked to do, I’m ready for it.”

It has been a frustrating time for Sears, who has scored four times for Colchester this season.

He initially recovered from a hamstring problem and returned against Preston North End on November 23, but broke down after just 28 minutes of that game.

However, Sears feels his is fully ready to hit the goal trail for the U’s this time.

He said: “I feel good. It has been a frustrating period for me and probably one of the longest that I’ve been out.

“What has made it even more frustrating is that I came back, felt good and it happened again.

“But I’ve been working hard and have done a lot of work with the fitness coach and physios and I feel really good now. I felt really good before the Preston game, but different things happen and maybe it wasn’t 100 per cent then.

“Maybe I rushed it a bit, but I have been training for the last two weeks and feel really sharp.

“You need a bit of match fitness, but training has been good.

“I played a reserve game before Preston and it came back so you never know, but it’s all about getting prepared for the real match.

“The other boys up front have been doing well and it has been frustrating because I’m sure there would have been a few goals in there for me.

“But I’m looking to kick on now.”