COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal admits he would love to keep loanee Theo Robinson at the club for longer.

Robinson's loan spell at Colchester from Southend United is due to expire this month and talks have taken place between U's chairman Robbie Cowling and his Blues counterpart Ron Martin, about the striker's immediate future.

The U's are understood to have a clause as part of their deal giving them the chance to keep the 30-year-old striker at the JobServe Community Stadium for longer.

But an Instagram post on social media appears to show Robinson replying 'unfortunately not' when asked by U's team-mate Frank Nouble if he would be 'staying'.

McGreal said: “I had a meeting with recruitment the other day, with the chairman (Robbie Cowling) and (director of football) Tony Humes.

“Robbie is in conversation with the Southend chairman (Ron Martin), so we’ll see where we are with that.

“He’s not our player and we haven’t got any rights to sign this player.

“With the position that Southend have been in and the way that Theo has performed of late, it’s one where we’d love to try and keep hold of him.

“That’s what the conversations will be and then it will be between the two chairman."

Robinson has scored seven times for Colchester since joining them on loan from Southend, in August.

He has made 21 league and cup appearances for the U's and came on as a late substitute in their goal-less draw at Stevenage, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, striker Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe is feeling fresh after returning to the U's squad, according to boss McGreal.

The former Maldon and Tiptree striker made his first Colchester appearance for nearly a year when he came on as a late substitute in their draw at Stevenage.

Ogedi-Uzokwe, who netted 14 goals for Derry City to secure the League of Ireland Golden Boot, is now set to battle for his place at the U's after returning to the fray.

“Junior has been away," said McGreal.

“We had a recruitment (meeting) the other day and he’s our player.

“He’s had his break and his off-season programme and a couple of days’ training and he feels fresh."