CAMERON James is hoping he can tread the same path to success as other Colchester United players who have headed to Braintree Town on loan in recent seasons.

The 20-year-old defender has become the latest from the U's to move on a loan deal to Cressing Road and wants his Iron spell to be a springboard to first-team action when he returns to his parent club.

If he can manage that, it would match success seen by Sammie Szmodics, George Elokobi and Diaz Wright, who have all benefited from time at Braintree in the last four seasons.

Szmodics was brought in by then Iron boss Danny Cowley, while Hakan Hayrettin took Elokobi on loan and Wright had a memorable spell there last season when he played a pivotal part in Braintree's promotion back into the Vanarama National League, scoring the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout in the play-off final at Hampton and Richmond Borough.

James said: “Being at Braintree has worked well for Colchester players before.

“Diaz (Wright) did really well when he came last year and I’d love to follow in those footsteps by helping get the team to safety this year and push on from there.

“I was talking to Brad (Quinton) for quite a while before it got sorted so I’m glad that it did and I’m just happy to be playing football again.

“It’s good to be among a good group of boys and I feel we can do well.

“It’s only one level down from what I’ve been used to with Colchester.

“That’s good for me and hopefully I can do well and push for Braintree this year."

The young U's defender has played in Braintree's last two outings - a 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood and a 1-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge - when he has featured in a wing-back role and he said it is game-time that Colchester head coach John McGreal has told him to get.

“Colchester have just said for me to get games," added James, who has made 27 appearances for the U's.

“I’m obviously not at the front of the queue at the moment as there are lots of centre halves and full-backs at the club.

“But I’m just happy to be playing again.

“The National League is a good level and not much different from what I’ve experienced in League Two when I’ve played there for Colchester.

“It’s a similar pace with a similar stature of player and that’s good for me as it will hopefully help me and allow me to push into the team at Colchester at some point.

“I’ve spoken to the Gaffer (McGreal) before coming to Braintree and he just said to go out, get some games and show what I can do.

“Hopefully whenever I go back I can be in and around it."

While Braintree find themselves bottom of the National League table ahead of Saturday's home game against Wrexham, James said he has seen enough in his short time at Cressing Road to know that they can start climbing in coming weeks and he is looking forward to being a part of that.

He said: “It’s a fine line between getting points and not.

“We come down on the wrong side of it at Dagenham but that’s not something I’m personally worried about at the moment as I know the points will be coming in coming weeks.

“We’re not far away at all."