Colchester United beat Port Vale 2-1 in midweek to extend their unbeaten run in the fourth tier to 12 matches and attacking midfielder Jack Payne is proving instrumental to Danny Cowley’s team.
The 30-year-old arrived at the JobServe Community Stadium in the summer after helping MK Dons into the League Two play-offs last season.
56 Goal Contributions in 156 Appearances – Jack Payne is at Home in League Two
Payne has played for multiple clubs in the EFL, but his journey has seen him make most of his career appearances in League One.
Despite a couple of impressive campaigns in the third tier down the years, it is in League Two where the former Charlton Athletic and Swindon Town star has played his best football.
This is evidenced by a record of goal involvement in every 2.7 matches compared to every 3.5 in League One. It must be noted that both records are impressive.
That has been the case in the current campaign as the midfielder has been one of the standout players in League Two, registering 15 goal involvements including match-winning contributions in 1-0 wins over MK Dons and Chesterfield this month.
No player in the division who has registered more than seven assists can boast Payne’s tally of six goals and the attacking midfielder has directly contributed to his side being 12 points better off due to output.
However, there is much more to his game than regular goal involvement.
Star Midfielder Boasts Multiple Impressive Attributes
No player in the fourth tier can better Payne’s total of 81 key passes and had it not been for Colchester United failing to fire in front of goal his numbers could have been significantly better in terms of assists.
The midfielder has a high pass completion rate of over 80% and Colchester United are heavily reliant on their playmaker to create opportunities.
Despite not registering a goal involvement in the win over Port Vale, the U’s number ten made three key passes and completed the same number of tackles in a hard-working display offensively and defensively against a playoff contender.
His 2.6 attempted tackles per game separate him from other players in the same attacking midfield or number-ten role.
Payne is a goal threat from any area of the field, being a more than capable shot-taker from inside or outside the penalty area. He tops the charts for shots per game at Colchester United in League Two this season.
Needless to say, Payne is the glue that keeps this side together after a hectic period of arrivals and departures over the last two transfer windows. Danny Cowley will be aiming for an unlikely spot in the play-offs after they won just two of their first 15 matches of the League Two season.
Will Colchester United Secure a Play-Off Place?
It is shaping up to be a highly competitive race to finish in the top seven and no side above Colchester United can boast a better run of form.
The U’s have been rock-solid defensively but may lack the firepower to overhaul some of the teams in contention for a playoff spot.
It could come down to Cowley managing to keep the likes of Payne and one of Samson Tovide or Lyle Taylor in attack fit for the run-in.
The trio are the only ones in the Colchester United squad that have reached double figures for goal contributions.
It is very much in their own hands as the U’s face Bradford City, Crewe Alexandra, Grimsby Town, Notts County and Doncaster Rovers in their final ten matches.
Their final ten games feature five teams above them in the table so it would take an inspired effort to finish in the top seven but Cowley has built a strong outfit that is moulding into an effective and prosperous team.
If they do not achieve promotion this season then they should be considered one of the favourites to do so in 2025/26. The foundations are in place for the club to embark on a successful spell in the short term.