Macauley Bonne says he is desperate to step up to the plate and boost Colchester United’s promotion challenge in the final two months of the season.

Bonne has returned from a loan spell at National League outfit Woking and came on as a substitute in the U’s 1-1 draw at Cambridge United, last weekend.

The 21-year-old striker was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages of the Abbey Stadium clash.

And with fellow strikers Kurtis Guthrie and Denny Johnstone sidelined until the end of the season, Bonne is eager to make a big impression in Colchester’s final run-in.

Bonne told the Daily Gazette: “There are 11 games to go and there’s plenty of time for me to make an impact.

“I’m buzzing at the moment and I just want the next game to be here.

“It’s down to us as players who are fit to come and step up to the plate.

“I came on in the 80th minute at Cambridge, so I knew that I had about ten minutes plus any stoppage-time to make a difference.

“It’s a big game against Portsmouth on Saturday and there’ll be a big crowd.

“But all of the games between now and the end of the season are massive for us.

“It would be nice to go up automatically and aim for that.

“We feel more of a team this season and we have that connection and team bond.”

Bonne thought he had scored Colchester’s equaliser at Cambridge and was left devastated when his close-range effort was chalked off for offside.

“I was so adamant that I had scored that I didn’t even look at the linesman after I put it in the net,” said the Zimbabwe international.

“It hadn’t even crossed my mind that it was offside.

“I was quite adamant that I had the guy on my right-hand shoulder but it looks like it may have been by a millimetre.

“When I saw the linesman’s flag up, I wanted to tear it apart!

“It was frustrating but the good thing was that I was in that area in the six-yard box and was a goal threat.”

Bonne played seven appearances during his loan spell at Woking, who are battling against relegation in the National League.

“The loan spell I had at Woking wasn’t as successful as I wanted it to be as I wanted to score some goals,” added Bonne, who has made only one league start for the U’s this season.

“But I got my match fitness back up and it was of benefit to me, playing at a good level.

“I think the only thing that’s missing from my game at the moment is a few goals.”