Colchester United wing-back Mandela Egbo has impressed

But it’s the words of one of Egbo’s former coaches that still resonate with the U’s defender, whose enterprise and dynamism from right wing-back has caught the eye, in the opening weeks of the new League Two season.

“I remember two years ago at Swindon, Scott Lindsey would tell me the first time you get the ball, you need to let everybody see your pace but more importantly, let the opponent that you’re up against see that pace and then naturally, you’ll get more time,” recalls Egbo.

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“I remember every game I’d get it and whether it was on or wasn’t on, I’d just go on a darting run.

“I’ve tried to implement that a bit more.

“It fell away a bit last season, playing in a lot of different positions, sometimes left centre-half, right centre-half but definitely at wing-back, it’s an opportunity to take my man on and let him know early that I’m not messing around.

“I enjoy looking at the man across from me and saying ‘I’m going to match him up today’ and get the better of him.

“So, I’d say Scott Lindsey is to blame for those runs!”

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

On Saturday, when Colchester make the long trip up to Morecambe looking for three points, Egbo may well get the chance to go head to head with his friend and left-back, David Tutonda.

Egbo said: “Dave’s a mate of mine so I’ll tell him ‘I’m coming at you and I’ll get round you as many times as possible’.

“I think when I take the game personally, I put a bit of pressure on myself and that’s when I get the best out of myself.”

After a frustrating injury-interrupted second half of the season last time around, Egbo is making up for lost time for Colchester.

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After coming off the bench in the U’s opening game at AFC Wimbledon, the 27-year-old has since started every league game for Danny Cowley’s side.

“The focus is definitely on staying fit, because as I learned last season when you’re not, you can’t help out the team and it’s really, really stressful - I’d much rather be on the pitch,” said Egbo, whose two serious knee injuries last season restricted him to just three appearances for the U’s in the final four months of the campaign.

“If I can stay fit, hopefully I can stay in the team and start putting up numbers and help the team as much as possible.

“I had a top off season and a top pre-season; the gaffers have given me everything I’ve needed, fitness wise.

(Image: Matt Wilkinson)

“I hope there’s more to come from me.

“I’m still yet to score an EFL goal and still yet to assist, this season!

“In that right wing-back position, you’re expected to chip in with goals and assists.

“Whether I play there or centre-half this season, in any game I’m going to look to chip in and hopefully that will mean that there’s more to come from me.

“Anywhere down that right side I’m quite comfortable, whether it’s right-sided centre-half, right wing-back or right-back in a four at the back.

“Wherever I’m put, I’ll try to do my best.

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“As a wing-back, you’re expected to be in both boxes and to attack that bit more and as a right centre-half, every now and then you get the opportunity to catch the opposition out.

“I’m trying to have an input at both ends of the field and defend just as well as I attack and attack just as well as I defend.”

Colchester head to Morecambe looking for a second league win of the season, having picked up five points from their opening five games.

It is a new-look U’s squad with a plethora of changes made in the summer but Egbo concedes they need to start winning.

“It takes time but we’ve got no excuses,” said the former Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town defender.

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

“We’ve had pre-season and four or five weeks of the season now.

“It’s going well and the performances aren’t bad.

“It would be more of a concern if we weren’t gelling and we couldn’t see the things we’re doing in training being emulated on the pitch.

“It’s just repetition, repetition, repetition whether that’s defensively making sure we’re concentrating throughout the whole of the game or in attack, just making sure we’re getting ourselves in the positions and putting the ball into dangerous areas.

“Eventually we’ll get there and it’ll all come together, I’ve no doubt of that and we’ll start scoring goals.”

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Colchester take on a Morecambe side who lie bottom of the table and are yet to register a goal, let alone a point this season.

However, Egbo insists there will certainly not be any complacency on the U’s part, ahead of the game at the Globe Arena.

Egbo added: “Every single one of Morecambe’s games has been competitive.

“They’ve conceded less goals than the team that’s top of the league.

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

“We’re under no illusions – it’ll be a difficult game.

“They’ve been in all of their games and they’re not by any means easy opposition to play against.

“We’ll need to give 100 per cent and put in a top performance to come out with anything.

“It’s a long trip, similar to the one up to Accy the other week but we’re professionals and we’ve done this before, so we know what we’ll need going up there.

“I can’t wait to get going come Saturday, at 3pm.”