Stockley: I want to stay at Colchester

The 24-year-old defender joined The U's on a month's loan late last month from Division Three side Oxford United.

The former Barnet man (pictured) has been impressive at right back for the Essex club and Stockley is finding his time with Colchester to be most productive.

With about a fortnight remaining on his loan deal at the Division Two club, Stockley told the Colchester United official website that he hopes he can stay on longer with Whitton's side.

Stockley said: "Without any shadow of a doubt, if there's any chance that I can join Colchester permanently, then I would love to.

"But I will keep working hard, keep aiming to impress and do that a day at a time for now. Hopefully that will be enough for me.

"I thought I did okay (Saturday's defeat at Port Vale) and I thought I got forward well, which hopefully adds something to the team.

I can get up and down - it's the first game I've played this season and I really, really enjoyed it."

On Stockley's display at Port Vale, Whitton added: "Sam was good at both right back and right wing back.

"He's positive, wants to win and wants to play and I think that showed today, he's a good acquisition to the squad."

Meanwhile, Whitton will be without the services of captain Gavin Johnson for up to six weeks after he broke his leg in the defeat at Port Vale.

Johnson suffered the injury after landing awkwardly when he jumped for a header with The Valiants' Sam Collins, who then landed on him on the ground.

The 32-year-old was stretchered off and taken to hospital where X-rays confirmed he had cracked his fibula.

Johnson's injury is a blow to Whitton, who is already without the services of Scott Fitzgerald, Karl Duguid and Joe Dunne.

Whitton said: "It's a massive blow for us and we're going to have to think about how this changes things for Tuesday against Northampton."