KURTIS Guthrie says he will strive for a regular place in Colchester United’s starting line-up after becoming the club’s latest signing.

The 23-year-old forward became the U’s fifth senior summer signing after arriving on a two-year deal from National League outfit Forest Green Rovers, for an undisclosed fee,

Guthrie, who scored 12 goals for Rovers last season to help them reach the National League play-off final at Wembley, will compete with the likes of Denny Johnstone, Chris Porter and Macauley Bonne for a place in Colchester’s forward line.

Guthrie told the Daily Gazette: “The first thing I need to do is get myself into the starting line-up and make sure that I’m one of the first names on the team list.

“If I do that and work hard then I’m confident that the goals will come and I have my own target I want to aim for.”

“I think promotion is the aim for everyone at Colchester, this season.

“The manager wants players who have a winning mentality at the football club and we don’t want to be fighting relegation again.

“We all want to push on and help the club get straight back up.

“For the last two years, I’ve been involved at a good club and pushing on and I want to carry on that winning mentality with Colchester.

“Mentally, I had made my mind up by Christmas that I wanted to play in the Football League this season, either with Forest Green getting promotion or with another club and to do enough to cement myself a chance to play at that level.”

Guthrie said he had his heart set on a move to Colchester as soon as he knew they were interested in signing him.

The Jersey-born forward, who is an England C international, added: “I’m glad it’s all sorted - I had a couple of other clubs sniffing around but when I got the call from Colchester saying they were interested, I only wanted to go there.

“They’ve got a lot going for them with the staff, players, training ground and stadium so they were an attractive proposition for me.

“I’m very pleased to have joined Colchester and I just want to get going now.”

Jamie Harney has become the latest player to commit his future to Colchester United after signing a one-year contract with the club.

The former West Ham United centre-back, who was out of contract at the end of last season, has agreed to stay at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester will play Welsh Premier League club Airbus UK Broughton in a friendly next Thursday as part of their pre-season trip to Cheshire.