Colchester United attacker Sammie Szmodics says he will always be grateful to Joe Dunne for giving him his big chance in professional football.

Dunne returns to the Community Stadium for the first time as a manager tomorrow when he brings his Cambridge United side to take on his former club.

The popular Irishman, who managed Colchester between 2012 and 2014, handed Szmodics his senior debut when the former Stanway School pupil appeared as a substitute in a League One game at Bristol City in September, 2013.

The 22-year-old has gone on to make more than 100 appearances since then and says Dunne set him on his way in the game.

Szmodics said: “I’ll always be thankful to ‘gaffer’ as I call Joe - he gave me my first professional contract, then my debut and then my first start.

“I played I think 30-plus games under him, until he left.

“He was very good one-to-one, a bit like our gaffer now.

“He wouldn’t be scared to pull you to one side and talk to you, either positively or negatively but he was very good at man management and giving you confidence to go out there and play.

“I’m sure he’ll get a good reception on Saturday, for his playing career and the way he holds himself.

“I’ve worked under a few managers here now and I’ve had a good relationship with all of them.”

Colchester are back on home territory tomorrow, having claimed four points from six on the road in League Two.

The U’s can go third with a win over Cambridge, after an encouraging start to the new campaign.

“We know that we need to make our home like a fortress and after two away games, we’re looking to get a win,” added Szmodics, who has started all seven of Colchester’s league games so far, this season.

“If we win, we go into the top three - we’ve set ourselves a target to not come out of the top seven and push on for the top three.”

Szmodics, who was Colchester’s top scorer last season with 13 goals, says he is looking to add to his tally for this season of two.

He added: “I had a little meeting with the gaffer on Wednesday to review the Tranmere game, because I should have scored ten to 15 minutes into the game.

“I set myself high standards and I would expect myself to score that.

“But we spoke about the Southampton under-21 game and my Port Vale assist and my play’s got a bit tidier around the box.

“Instead of just going for goal, I’m looking for other players and I think that’s what I need to bring into my game more, aside from the goal threat I have.”