Lewis Kinsella says he left Colchester United to get opportunities elsewhere after experiencing a frustrating finish to his time at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Kinsella yesterday exited the U’s by mutual consent and the 23-year-old later joined Aldershot Town on a permanent deal.

The full-back has already made three appearances for the Shots, after joining them on loan in early January.

Now he has now signed a contract until the end of the season.

He found himself on the lookout for a new club after finding game time hard to come by over recent months.

The former Aston Villa youngster was a regular for John McGreal’s side, in the opening weeks of last season.

But a serious ankle injury ruled him out of action for several months and despite returning in the final weeks of the last campaign, has found regular first team football hard to come by and spent last month on loan at National League side Aldershot.

Kinsella said: “It’s about taking opportunities and not having those opportunities has killed me.

“It’s down to me as a player and a person to show the right attitude.

“I started the first 14 games of the first season I was at Colchester but then I got a bad ankle injury and the manager changed the formation and it’s all been downhill from there.

“I worked as hard as I could to get back in but I wasn’t in the side.

“I wasn’t really in their plans at Colchester and I needed to go out and play.

“I go into training and every game to make myself a better player and when I’m not playing, I find it tough and that starts to affect the people around you.

“I’ve kept myself in good condition but when you haven’t played for so long, it’s difficult.”

Kinsella’s final competitive start for Colchester came in their Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Essex rivals Southend United, last November.

“I’ve no regrets about joining Colchester and I feel like I’m leaving them a better player,” said the 23-year-old, who made 29 league and cup appearances in total during his time at the Community Stadium.

“I’m more experienced now but the most important thing that I’ve learnt is being a better person and understanding the football environment.

“In an Academy, it’s about progression but in the Football League, results come first. It’s an eye opener at times but that’s not just at Colchester; it would be the same at any other Football League, I’m sure.

“Every club is run differently but Colchester is a good club and I’ll be keeping an eye on their results.

“It was my first club in men’s football and I got on well with the boys there.”

Kinsella said he enjoyed his time on loan at Aldershot.

He added: “I wasn’t really involved at Colchester and was in and out of the side.

“I find it hard being on the bench and missing out and had been asking to go out on loan for a while."

Colchester allowed another defender to depart yesterday, with academy centre-back Dan Jefferies moving to Dundee.