JOHN McGreal says having Sammie Szmodics back can be like a new signing for Colchester United this season.

And the U’s first-team coach has challenged the attacking midfielder to follow in the footsteps of his friend Alex Gilbey and strive for big things in his career.

Szmodics spent a large chunk of last season on the sidelines due to a foot injury, managing only two starts for Colchester.

But the 20-year-old is now back and raring to go, boosted by a new contract extension that will keep him at his home town club until the summer of 2019.

Szmodics will be striving to fill the number ten role vacated by George Moncur’s move to Barnsley and McGreal says having the former Stanway School pupil in his squad is a big boost.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “Sammie coming back is like a new signing for us, as he was out for five or six months last season.

“He’s like a new addition for us.

“He went out on loan to Braintree Town last season to try and get more game time and did exceptionally well there but unfortunately got injured, which was a real pity.

“He’s another one who has worked very hard in the off season and he’s returned full of his usual enthusiasm.”

McGreal believes Szmodics is one of a number of young players at Colchester who should be buoyed by fellow academy graduate Gilbey’s rise to the Championship.

Gilbey completed a switch to Wigan Athletic last month, having risen through the youth ranks at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Cameron James and Tariq Issa yesterday became the latest young players to pledge their future to the U’s, after both signing four-year deals.

McGreal added: “Alex has given that extra bit of incentive to young players coming to the club or already within our academy to try and emulate his achievements.

“He’s a bit of a trailblazer for us and it was great to hear that chant “he’s one of our own” sung around the stadium.

“I know Sammie Szmodics for example is a good friend of Alex’s and now he’ll be looking to do the same and be the next one to step up.

“It’s unfortunate that we’ve been relegated while those two boys (Alex Gilbey and George Moncur) have been playing for our first team.

“But they’ve earned their moves to the Championship and it’s a carrot for the rest of the boys to want to play at a higher level, hopefully with us at Colchester.”