Dan Holman admits he is disappointed he has not been given more opportunities to be a success at Colchester United.

The striker this week linked up with Conference Premier outfit Dover Athletic, his third loan move away from the U’s this season.

Holman, who joined Colchester from Braintree Town on a two-year deal last summer, played five times under former boss Joe Dunne at the start of the campaign.

But the 24-year-old is yet to feature under current manager Tony Humes, who has admitted Holman is currently his fourth-choice striker at the U’s.

Holman said he had hoped to battle for a first-team place at Colchester after returning from a loan spell at Aldershot Town, last month.

But after joining Dover until the end of the season, he says he is disappointed he has not had played more League One football for the U’s.

Holman said: “My main aim was to come back from Aldershot and try and force my way into the Colchester side.

“But it doesn’t seem like it’s an option for me.

“The gaffer initially said he thought I was looking sharp in training and I was really enjoying it.

“I want to play for Colchester and I wanted to challenge for a place on the bench at least.

“But he decided that he wanted me to go out on loan and then review things, at the end of the season.

“It’s really disappointing that I haven’t been given an opportunity at Colchester.

“I worked so hard to try and get the move from part-time to full-time football, travelling from Northampton to Braintree three times a week.

“It was a dream come true to get a move to a Football League club.

“The facilities at Colchester are fantastic and I’ve been working a lot with the fitness coach Dave Carolan and doing extra work.

“My aim is still to play in the Football League but circumstances have meant that hasn’t really happened for me, this season.

“Being on the bench for Colchester at the start of the season under Joe Dunne was fantastic.

“It’s my aim to get back to playing in the Football League but with the new manager, I haven’t really had a chance to do that.

“As soon as he came in, he said he wanted me to go out on loan, which is what I’ve done and I know that it’s all about opinions.

“I just want to play games - I don’t just want to sit around every Saturday and be happy to make up the numbers.”

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