Colchester United are in discussions with Michael Folivi

The U’s announced earlier this month that they were awaiting ‘discussions and/or decisions’ with the former Watford striker, along with midfielder Ben Stevenson.

Folivi, who scored six goals in 13 starts for Colchester after joining them last November and played his part in helping them retain their League Two status, is due to see his contract at the JobServe Community Stadium expire this summer.

But talks have taken place and the forward says he enjoyed his six-month stint with the U’s.

Folivi said: “There’s been dialogue between my agent and the club.

“I’m still waiting and it’s a big thing for me.

“I think any player wants to get their future sorted out and have some family time but mentally and physically, you have to stay strong.

“I got a glimpse of the Colchester fans and they even had their chants for me when I played my first game in front of them against Morecambe.

“I got my goal and made a few friends that day, although I think it’s easy to make a chant out of Folivi!

“They won me over and hopefully, I won them over.

“I’d work my socks off for any manager but I have a personal relationship with Hayden (Mullins) and I think that’s a key thing for any player.”

Folivi started each of Colchester’s last five matches of the season, scoring twice in that time to help them avoid relegation.

His goals in their back-to-back home wins against Walsall and Southend United proved vital – and the 23-year-old admits his strike in the 2-0 Essex derby triumph was a memorable moment.

“Scoring against Southend was probably the highlight of my season,” said the former AFC Wimbledon loanee, who made a total of 29 league and cup appearances for the U’s, this season.

“All of the games were big but that one was more than a six pointer.

“Scoring that goal was a big moment in my career and it was just upsetting that we couldn’t have the fans with us because when that goal goes in with the fans there, it’s one of those moments for life.

“I still watch it back quite a bit to be fair and just hearing the cheer that went up when I scored, it was huge!

“As a striker, you can’t really describe the feeling you have when you hit the back of the net.

“The feeling you get for ten seconds when you score is a feeling like no other – I just need to work on a few more celebrations!

“I’d been out of the picture and not really had many starts before that, so to start those two games against Walsall and Southend meant a lot.

"Thankfully, I was able to repay the manager who had put faith in me.

“The approach that we took under Hayden (Mullins) and Tis (Paul Tisdale) was really good.

“Training was fun and was calm and it did take a lot of the nerves away.

“We could have been doing a whole load of shape work and focusing on who was going to play but I don’t think we did that.

“The experienced boys played their part too talking the younger ones through it and all of those things added up.

“The biggest thing for me was that we were all on the same page and had cool heads.

“Where the manager and the coaching staff were so calm, it helped us be the same and took quite a few nerves away from us.

“In training, everyone knew where the ball would end up and if it didn’t, we were in the positions to pick it up.

“I understand that it was difficult for other managers with the formation that we were playing to even put me in the squad.

“But when it did come, I found my feet towards the end of the season.

“I always knew what I was capable of but I just needed a chance, so when I got it I knew I had to take it.

“It was a mentally draining season but I guess that’s what we’re trained for really.

“I don’t think I’ve had one season in football that has been exactly the same as the other.

“Football is what you make of it - I take the positives and the feelings that I had when I was at the highest and at the peak of my season and I’ve just got to relive those moments.

“I’ve got to get myself in the best shape to put myself in that position again.

“I just wish I had longer and more minutes; my goals to games ratio was really good and I’m happy with that.

“If I’m fit for the whole season, I know what I’m capable of to help the team.”

Folivi struck up a fruitful strike partnership with loanee Frank Nouble in the final weeks of the season, as Colchester reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

“Frank made my job so much easier,” said Folivi, who made his Premier League debut for Watford against Stoke City in the 2016-17 campaign.

“Other than being a great guy and a great person off the pitch, for a big man he can really get around the pitch.

“He’s also a good footballer technically and that helps a lot.

“I enjoyed the partnership a lot.

“He got me a lot of chances, I got him a few chances and we were on the same page.”

Folivi’s season was briefly interrupted at the turn of the calendar year by a hamstring injury.

The forward admits he had to overcome a psychological barrier, in order to come back stronger.

He added: “It was a big mental thing because I was out for quite a while with operations and injections at such a young age.

“I know I hadn’t lost any of the ability but it was just getting the feel and the love for the game again and managers to trust you.

“It’s really hard as is keeping up with the boys who are really fit and training every day.

“It was a case of getting used to it again because I’d been out for a while.

“It was a big mental thing for me but I had the support of the people around me and when I got my first goal and to get it so early on, you get the feeling back and you can then do small things with the sports scientists.

“I’d say I finished the season a lot stronger physically with all of the work with the physios and the sports scientists.

“I’m feeling really strong now and I just need to keep my body in shape.

“It’s been weird in my career in that I haven’t really had proper pre-seasons where I’m settled in as a first-team player – I’ve always been a youngster, in a first team.

“I’m looking forward to this one.”