He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in League Two, by John McGreal.

So it is little wonder that Ryan Jackson has been one of the first names on the Colchester United head coach’s teamsheet, this season.

Only Tom Eastman and Mikael Mandron have made more league starts for the U’s so far this season than the reliable right-back, who arrived on a free transfer from Gillingham last summer.

The 27-year-old has already clocked up more than 250 league appearances during the course of his professional career – but feels the current campaign has been one of his best so far.

“I’m very happy – I think this is the longest I’ve played in my career,” said the London-born defender.

“I think I’m hitting 42 appearances and I hope to continue to contribute to the team and get more wins.

“I would say this has been one of the most consistent seasons of my career, so far.

“Normally, they’ve been a bit stop-start, even though I’d played the majority of the games.

“But this season, I’ve had the longest run without any injuries that have kept me out for a long period of time so I’m happy.”

Jackson has impressed at both full-back and wing-back for Colchester this season.

He is currently being utilised as a right-back as part of the U’s flat-back four – and insists he is happy playing in whichever role he is asked.

He said: “I’m enjoying the right-back role at the moment but I enjoy playing in either position – as long as I’m playing I’m happy.

“I love to attack and go forward but I also like defend.

“First things first, I’m a right-back and a defender and we relish keeping clean sheets and the ball out of the net.

“We’ve got a good back four at the moment and we’ve been working well together.

“Drey (Wright) and I have a good partnership where he goes forward sometimes and I do, too.”

Jackson will be hoping to help Colchester close the gap on the play-off places tomorrow when they host fifth-placed Notts County.

The U’s lie four points off the play-off places with four games remaining and the former AFC Wimbledon youngster says they have confidence in their ability to win games.

He said: “We never stop believing, even if we’re in not such a good patch.

“We know that we’re good players and that we can get results.

“We still believe we can do it and there are still a lot of points to play for.

“We have our own ambitions that we want to achieve, both as players and as a team.

“It’s a very competitive division and the key is trying to be more consistent for a longer period of time.

“That gets you more wins in this league whereas in League One for example, you need your top players to get you wins.”

Jackson was part of the Colchester side that lost in agonising fashion at Notts County, last November.

The U’s looked on course for a deserved draw at Meadow Lane when they conceded a last-gasp goal, to lose 2-1.

Jackson added: “I thought we did really well when we played them last time and we were unlucky not to get a point at least.

“We played some good football there and it was a bit tough that we didn’t come away with any points.

“If we can take the positives and those from our last few games into Saturday, I can see us coming away with the win.”