Freddie Sears is prepared to challenge established strike partners Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick for a place in the Town attack.

With Noel Hunt, the two-goal hero of Saturday’s 3-1 win at Millwall also in contention, former Colchester favourite Sears accepts he faces a fight to hold down a regular place in Mick McCarthy’s starting line-up.

Sears, who launched his career in the top flight at West Ham, said: “I know all about the competition for places here. Everyone wants to play but you don’t want to be a regular just finding it easy to keep your place all the time.

“You need to be kept on your toes and the three strikers already at the club are all really good players.

“That means it will be tough for me to get into the team but I will be trying to give the gaffer something to think about and when my opportunity comes I will be doing my utmost to make sure I take it.”

With McGoldrick still sidelined due to a knee injury, Sears is certain to be in Town’s 18-man squad for tonight’s trip to the south coast to take on a Brighton side with just two wins from their 13 home league games this season.

But Sears warned: “Every game is tough and I learned that in League One. There are no givens there and I know it’s the same in the Championship. We went to Millwall on Saturday and they aren’t doing too well at the moment, but they gave us a game.

“Brighton are a good side who play good football and with a new manager there it’s going to be a tough night.

“It can take a bit of time for a new manager to work out his best team so there might be a few changes here and there but we’ll be well prepared ourselves and that’s the main thing.

“There’s a really good buzz and a terrific atmosphere about the place. Ever since I first arrived everyone’s been happy and the lads are flying.

“Results have been good and they breed confidence. The boys deserve to be happy about life and I hope it stays that way all the way through to the end of the season.

“We’ll just take each game as it comes and not get too carried away. You can’t when there are quite a few still to be played this season.

“Sometimes it’s hard not to get carried away when you’re sitting in such a good position at the top of the table, but if you’re not professional you could soon drop down to sixth or lower because it’s so tight with so many clubs involved.”

Photo: Action Images

Hegansheroes added 10:40 - Jan 21 Do like his attitude very much & comes over well in interviews, wonder what he actually cost. Was looking at tweets from Chopra & you can see what lose cannons he & Bullard were, certainly unprofessional
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