Town boss Paul Lambert refused to get carried away by his team’s five-goal thrashing of Colchester at the JobServe Community Stadium tonight.

Lambert saw new signing James Norwood claim a hat-trick and half-time substitute Kayden Jackson was also on target twice as the Blues, who only led 1-0 at the break, cruised to a comfortable win.

“Norwood is a finisher — everybody can see that — and it was great for him,” said Lambert. “Jackson, I think, is really lively and some of the goals, no matter what level you’re at, were brilliant.”

Lambert also paid tribute to the 3,000 Town fans who made the short journey along the A12 before adding: “We are — and I hate to use the phrase — a work in progress. I don’t like using it but that’s exactly where we are.

“Tonight’s game gets the fitness levels higher after some really tough games in Germany. Paderborn and Fortuna Dusseldorf are unbelievable sides. We had a good game against Paderborn but against Dusseldorf we looked like an U18 team in the first half.

“But that’s fine, I pick the team and the lads needed minutes, so it was a great experience for them against a top German side. In our other game against Meppen I thought we should have won it.

“Tonight we also played well but the expectancy level at the football club is what it is because of the badge and what’s happened to this club in the past.

"I get all that but we have to have a bit of realism. We’re still a really young side and they can play. They will make mistakes because of the experience they lack at the moment but it will come.”

But Lambert admitted he is no nearer to knowing the team he will field in the first League One fixture at Burton in two weeks’ time, with skipper Luke Chambers suspended and defensive partner Toto Nsiala sidelined with a hamstring injury that will see him miss the opening weeks of the campaign

He added: “We have eight first team guys injured and we need to get them back. But how long, I don’t know. One or two are a few months away.

"We still need a few lads to come in and give us a hand but it’s difficult because we can’t go and spend silly — that’s the way the club is at the minute.”

Free agent central defender James Wilson, who has been invited to train with Town after being released by Lincoln, played the entire second half against Colchester but no decision on whether to offer him a contract has been made.

Lambert said: “There’s not really any news on James. He’s not done anything the whole pre-season and we asked if we could have a look at him. He’s trained a little bit and he did really well when he came on but he’s miles short of match fitness, as he will admit himself.

“He’s really comfortable with the ball and he has been a good player. It’s just about his game time and training time, which is way down. But centre-half is an area we must look at. We need experience but the problem with James is that he hasn’t trained.”

Experienced midfield man Cole Skuse was conspicuous by his absence at Colchester but Lambert explained: “He slipped on Wednesday in training and there was nobody near him. He jarred his hip but could have played. We just didn’t think it was worth the risk.”

Lambert admitted his relief that midfielder Teddy Bishop did not suffer an ACL injury but he will still be absent for around three months — ironically, according to his manager, after his best pre-season in years.

Broken wrist victim Alan Judge is due to see a specialist on Monday to determine his progress from the broken wrist suffered on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Quizzed about QPR’s reported interest in Judge, for whom the London club were said to have had a £250,000 bid recently rejected, the manager added: “There is no way he is going to leave this club for a value that in my opinion is nowhere near his true worth.

“If we let him go to QPR who do we get in? Everybody has a value, absolutely, but there’s got to be a bit of realism.

"The football club got Alan going again and made him play consecutive games. We gave him a great opportunity. He did well for us last season but we did well for him.

“It’s a two-way thing and there’s no chance he is going to just walk out the door.”

Colchester boss John McGreal, the former Town defender, said: “We came in at half-time and I was pleased with our performance in keeping a good side at bay.

"In the second half we came unstuck with crosses into the box. We weren’t marking properly or defending the back post.”

Photo: TWTD

Len_Brennan added 00:11 - Jul 20 The comments on Judge are worrying as QPR have clearly made bids for him & are not gone away yet. He'll probably go, back to London & back to the Championship as it will appeal to him. Interesting also that Lambert changed his normal line about not paying fees for players to "we can't go and spend silly", suggesting that some level of fee will be acceptable to pay for the right player.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:58 - Jul 20 Agree with Len above. PL likes to be straighforward, but at the same time he has to keep his cards close to his chest.
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Cakeman added 06:46 - Jul 20 Sadly this Alan Judge speculation does resemble the Martin Waghorn situation of this time last year! Hopefully he wants to stay and if so we should keep him. if he wants to go then let him go as we only want players who really want to be with us. I am not sure about Bart though? I know he was on the bench but he didn't look at all interested last night.
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muccletonjoe added 07:30 - Jul 20 Judge quite clearly wants away, in which case, off you go old son.
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Karlosfandangal added 07:53 - Jul 20 I disagree guys. I read it as Judge is great full to the club and he won't walk out the door. However if QPR offered silly money to Ipswich and Judge then we would see him leave.
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Dolphinblue added 08:48 - Jul 20 Judge leaving would be a betrayal.....signed at a time when season tickets were being sold and his signing buoyed everyone and 12,000 were sold....if he leaves this club is a joke 🐬
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essextractorboy93 added 09:08 - Jul 20 Judge won't be leaving unless QPR bid silly money. He is going to be a key player for us this season. We have so many good options in attacking areas, Norwood, Jackson, Sears, Lankester, Judge, Edwards, Nolan, Bishop. QPR have got financial issues too so they can't pay much surely. And Judge would cost a million or more I suspect. Need a centre back and a striker I think. Good performance last night, especially second half

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midastouch added 09:33 - Jul 20 Even if we got a bid of between £1 million to £2 million for Judge, in today's crazy market I can't see how we could hope to get a player of equal quality for a similar amount. We took a bit of gamble on him given his long injury lay off, this looks like a gamble that could pay off (for a change!) so let's not cash our chips in much too early! A fit Judge might be the difference between promotion or not. That needs to be calculated against any decision to sell. If we got something like £1.5 million for him that might mean we might miss out on promotion and we know being in League One means a big financial haircut. I'm not so worried about QPR as I don't think they have the funds but I am worried about another Championship team testing the water with us for Judge. If we were to sell Judge I can see us getting a replacement that will have anything like the same pedigree and that has to be a concern. We need to do all we can to hang on to him providing he is happy to stay on board. It would need to take a really silly offer for us to sell him, £1 million or £2 million is pretty much chump change in the modern transfer market for a player of his calibre.

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midastouch added 09:34 - Jul 20 I meant above: "If we were to sell Judge I can't see us getting a replacement that will have anything like the same pedigree and that has to be a concern."
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1RWR added 10:04 - Jul 20 How can you say of Judge “he clearly wants away?”
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leftie1972 added 10:12 - Jul 20 250k for Judge, are they tripping!
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Linkboy13 added 10:31 - Jul 20 Doesn't matter how much money we'd get for Judge none of it would be available to spend as Evans is now recouping the money he's put into the club all depends on how well the team starts the season can't see him leaving if we are doing well. Paul Lambert's comment on James Wilson is strange he says he hasn't trained surely players at that level must keep reasonably fit during the summer can't see us keeping him on.

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runningout added 12:19 - Jul 20 We ain't the club we used to be by a long long long way. Our attraction is zero and it's up to our squad, and fans to get some decent character back. Respecting League 1 for starters
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TimmyH added 13:30 - Jul 20 I don't think anybody is Paul...a much needed win though.
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cornishblu added 13:51 - Jul 20 ....so we shouldnt Paul...it was against a colchetser side who themselves made multiple substutions Postoves 3000 fans turning up...demonstrates what potential we have if this gies all the way this season (why am i impatient for the Rochdale tickets to go on sale ...we want to be there ) A win ...get that happy feeling back,...and dont let go of it More minutes fir those who need it .....i woke up this morning still a blue and sicking up grren and yellow Downsides ,....stop talking as thiygh Judge will make or break our season....surely we have talent throughout .....judgey is an amazing addition to our team at this level and above ...but like norwood he isnt going to do it on his own ....so if he stays or goes thats his want ....my desire would be he folows up woth the loyalty that made him sign in the first pkace....lets just have one amazing year in this wilderness then talk about what next COYB

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Wickets added 17:22 - Jul 20 I too am a little worried that Judge being sold is still possible .Ok losing him may not break our season but Alan staying must be a huge plus, we must keep our top players and he is one of them. Already lost poor Teddy for at least half the season ,we love Huws but his fitness is a long way from proven, Yes a league lower but look how we where crying out for a midfielder to provide chances last season. IMO its huge that we keep Judge .too many of our best players have walked in the last few years !

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londontractorboy57 added 17:30 - Jul 20 Judge isnt going anywhere Lambert put his job on the line to secure judge!!!!!! By the way anybody heard from Blueboy1981?
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Northstandveteran added 17:39 - Jul 20 Londontractorboy. He disappeared with his arch enemy SWN to set up a moped rental firm in Moldova.
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Saxonblue74 added 18:58 - Jul 20 Great to see a couple for Jackson last night. Must confess to not being his biggest fan but really hope I'm wrong. Judge? I really think he's happy to be here, maybe he's looking forward to being a big fish in a small sea?
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deano85 added 19:59 - Jul 20 Judge wont leave us now... January however... Especially if he has a good start...
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DA22A added 08:00 - Jul 22 I really don't get why everyone rates Judge as if he's our best player. I watched him live 10 times last season and apart from scampering around, he didn't make an assist or score a goal. He's good, but not as good as everyone keeps going on about.
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