CLINTON Morrison says his former Colchester United team-mate Sammie Szmodics deserves 'so much credit' for reaching the Premier League.

But the ex-Republic of Ireland striker admits he'd have laughed had he been told when they were at the U's together that Szmodics would turn into a goal machine.

Szmodics has reached English football's top flight, after joining Ipswich Town from Blackburn Rovers for £9m last month.

READ MORE: Colchester season-ticket holder Si Collinson gives his U's views

The former Stanway School pupil has come a long way since his time at home-town club Colchester, where he made 165 appearances between 2013 and 2019.

Morrison played alongside Szmodics at the U's between 2012 and 2014 and the former Crystal Palace striker says he is delighted to see his ex-team-mate flourishing.

Speaking to 10bet, Morrison said: "I'm very pleased that Sammie Szmodics is getting an opportunity in the Premier League this season with Ipswich.

"He's worked ever so hard. I saw him at the EFL Awards, and he was saying, “I scored 27 goals in the Championship last season, why am I not getting the Player of the Year Award?”

"I told him that he wasn’t getting the award because Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville was better than him.

"Then you had Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, but to be fair to him, he took it well.

(Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)

"I told him he’d be playing in the Premier League sooner or later and that is exactly what has happened for him.

"He's a fantastic little player. He's so confident, full of beans.

"If you had told me when I played with him at Colchester that he would have turned into this goal-machine, that (he) would be playing in the Premier League, I would have laughed.

"You have to give him so much credit. He’s worked so hard to get to where he is."

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Morrison is backing Szmodics to hit the goal trail for his new club Ipswich, this season.

"He will definitely score goals this season for Ipswich," added Morrison, who made 71 appearances for the U's.

"I think him and Liam Delap will develop into a good partnership.

"He’s also playing under a great manager in Kieran McKenna."

Clinton Morrison has named his Top 10 Championship Teams on behalf of 10bet.