Now the young striker wants to as much game time under his belt for the U’s, after joining them on a season-long loan from Premier League new boys Luton Town.

Taylor played the first 45 minutes of Colchester’s Carabao Cup first-round tie at Cardiff City, scoring their second goal in a 2-2 draw which resulted in the hosts prevailing on a penalty shoot-out.

It was the 20-year-old’s first competitive action since he came on as a substitute for Luton in their Championship play-off win over Coventry City at Wembley Stadium.

Taylor, who has not completed a full 90 minutes since featuring for Peterborough United against Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day, says he enjoyed being back on the pitch again.

Taylor said: “I knew coming into the game that I was just going to give it my all and stand myself in as great a stead as I could, leading into the weekend.

“A big reason I came to Colchester was to get minutes.

“It’s going to take time; I’ve not played 90 minutes in a long time so it’s going to take at least a couple of games but I’m sure as soon as I do and get myself back to where I know I can get, the goals will start coming hopefully.

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“It was a good feeling to have been back out on the pitch again and I was really pleased to get myself a goal.

“The boys are brilliant and they’ve made me feel very welcome.”

Taylor started alongside John Akinde up front for Colchester at Cardiff, with both playing for 45 minutes before being replaced at half-time by Samson Tovide and Tom Hopper.

The former King’s Lynn striker’s withdrawal meant he missed out on the chance of taking a spot-kick in the shoot-out, which the U’s lost 3-0.

 

Taylor’s last kick of the season for Luton was scoring one of their penalties in their dramatic shoot-out triumph over Coventry City at Wembley, in May.

He said: “The gaffer made it pretty clear that between the four of us centre-forwards, we were going to get 45 minutes each.

“I’d have loved to have been out there to take a penalty.

“It was always frustrating especially when the penalties were on and I backed myself to score from 12 yards but we knew, coming into the game.

“Penalties can go either way – it’s either your day or it’s not.

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“I think we played really well and on the whole, we were quite pleased with the overall performance.

“It was such a cruel way to go out like that but it is what it is.

“The game was definitely there for the taking.

“It was end to end – I thought we had enough chances in the game to see it off but unfortunately, that’s not the way it turned out.”

Both of Colchester’s goals against Cardiff were made by the skill of Jayden Fevrier, who impressed for the visitors in a wing back-role.

“Jayden was brilliant late on, in that second half,” said Taylor, who was born in King’s Lynn.

“He just made it easy for both me and John.

“He did brilliantly down the right-hand side and he found me in the box.

“That’s all I ask; find me in the box and I’ll do what I can to score.”

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Colchester were forced to play the final few minutes of the tie at Cardiff with only ten men, after Tovide was sent off for serious foul play.

The 19-year-old striker connected with Cardiff defender Jamilu Collins with a high boot, as the pair competed for a high ball inside the hosts’ half.

Taylor said: “Samson’s gutted – he’s not that sort of guy and he didn’t mean that.

“I know I’ve not worked with him for very long and only trained with him twice but he’s not that sort of guy.

“He says he didn’t see him and I believe him.”

Taylor has now quickly turned his attention to Colchester’s trip to play Bradford City tomorrow.

It is the U’s first League Two game of the season, following the postponement of their home clash with Swindon Town last weekend.

Taylor added: “It’s a long trip up to Bradford but I’m sure if we play our game and execute the game plan exactly as the gaffer wants, I’m sure we’ll come away with three points.”