Colchester United defender Tosin Olufemi says his injury nightmare has made him a stronger person.

The 20-year-old has recently returned to action for the U’s under-21 side, after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Olufemi has had a long road back to recovery after suffering the injury in Colchester’s pre-season friendly at Bishop’s Stortford, last July.

But now the U’s academy product, who played in the under-21s’ 2-0 win over Barnsley on Monday night, is fully fit.

And Olufemi believes that his testing experience over the past seven months has helped him become tougher psychologically.

He said: “I definitely think I’m mentally stronger for what I’ve been through.

“It was a case of trying to get my head around the situation and getting back to the level I was at, before I got injured.

“It’s been tough but it’s definitely made me stronger.

“I used to go in every day and literally sit out there with my cast up, just watching training.

“It was tough but it kept me going, because I knew that I would be back out there.

“I had to do that to keep my mind more on the football.

“Seeing the young lads come through and play was an encouragement to me to get out there again.

“It’s good to be training properly and playing games without having any problems, which was my main aim.

“With every day that’s gone by, I’ve got fitter and sharper.

“I’ve had no setbacks which is the main thing and there’s been no problems, which has been great.”

Olufemi had been challenging for a place in Colchester’s starting line-up, at the time of his injury.

He had made 14 appearances for the U’s first team and was hoping to force his way into former manager Joe Dunne’s plans.

“For me, it was probably the worst possible time for it to happen but these things happen in football,” said Olufemi, who made his senior U’s debut at Bury in March, 2013.

Olufemi says he now feels ready to feature for Colchester’s first team again - and play his part in their survival battle.

He added: “I’ll just keep trying to impress and play games and whatever happens, happens.

“I’m ready and I feel good - I just want to keep working and getting fit and showing the manager what I can do.”

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