Colchester's record signing Steven Gillespie is raring to go ahead of the new campaign after last year's injury problems.

The former Liverpool trainee signed from Cheltenham for £400,000 last July, but only made eight league starts, scoring four goals, for the U's last season.

Gillespie told the Colchester Gazette: "I'm feeling good. We've been given a hard programme during the summer, which I've been sticking to.

"It's more important for me than the other lads because of last season.

"I'm even more excited than I was this time last year, because I've worked hard to get my fitness at a level where I can sustain 40 games a season."