Four-goal hero Macauley Bonne is hoping his glittering performance against Wealdstone will help him stake a claim for a regular place in Colchester United’s starting line-up.

Bonne bagged his first-ever professional hat-trick after starring in the U’s 6-2 triumph at Grosvenor Vale, which booked their place in tonight’s FA Cup second-round draw.

It was a memorable week for the Zimbabwe international, who had netted a hat-trick in their Essex Senior Cup win over AFC Hornchurch four days earlier.

Bonne’s appearance against Wealdstone was his first senior start for more than two months and the 20-year-old is naturally now keen to keep his place.

Bonne said: “I hope this will kick-start my season.

“It’s been frustrating not to have got more starts but now hopefully, I’ve shown what I can do and it’s up to the manager now.

“I’ve been trying to prove my point in the last month, scoring goals in the under-21s and putting a shift in for them.

“Goals are goals whether they’re for the first team or the under-21s and I’ve been scoring them – it’s seven in a week for me.

“I was happy to play wide right and I’ll play anywhere, as long as I’m playing football.”

Bonne scored two goals in each half at Wealdstone – and said his header just before half-time was his pick of the bunch.

“My favourite goal was the header from Callum Harriott’s cross,” said Bonne, who has made 13 appearances for the U’s this season.

“I managed to run in, check back again and bring my head around it at the far post.

“Scoring headers comes naturally to me – it’s not all I can do but it’s my strength.

“My goal just before half-time gave us a bit of breathing space and allowed us to start again fresh for the second half.”

Bonne is hoping that Colchester can improve on their FA Cup run of last season, where they were beaten in the third round by Cardiff City.

“Everyone wants a run in the FA Cup,” said Bonne, who has now scored seven goals for the U’s this season.

“We got to the third round last year and this season, I think we’ve got the quality in the team to go further.”

For five pages of coverage of the U's win over Wealdstone, see Monday's Daily Gazette.