Tariq Issa will be given the chance to challenge for a spot in Colchester United's starting line-up, this season.

The 19-year-old striker, who has been at the U's since he was 12 years old and made his senior debut for them in the EFL Trophy against Southampton under-23s last October, has featured regularly in pre-season for the U's and was on target in their 4-0 friendly win at Bostik League outfit Needham Market, earlier this month.

Issa, who appeared as a second-half substitute in the U's 2-1 friendly loss against Gillingham last night, was a regular in Wayne Brown's under-23 side in the Professional Development League, last season.

And U's head coach McGreal says the forward will now be given the chance to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Drey Wright and Sammie Szmodics and challenge for a first-team spot, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

McGreal said: “We like to bring our own boys through and I know fully what young Tariq is about.

“He’s been with the under-21s since he was 16 or 17 years of age and he’s now at the next level – I think he’s proved in pre-season that he’s nearly there and he’s highly thought of.

“He came on (against Gillingham) and was excellent and he’s another one that we’ve got who we’re going to try and expose from the academy, along with Cameron James and Diaz Wright."