DILLON Barnes can return for pre-season and challenge to be Colchester United’s number one goalkeeper.

That is the view of U’s player-goalkeeper coach Rene Gilmartin, who believes the young shot-stopper warranted his chance to finish last season in John McGreal’s starting line-up.

Following productive loan spells at Welling United and Hemel Hempstead Town, keeper Barnes got his first taste of League Two action when he replaced previous ever-present Sam Walker between the sticks in the final two games of the 2017-18 campaign.

The 22-year-old faces stiff opposition for his place this season from new signings Bailey Vose and Ethan Ross, along with Gilmartin himself.

But Gilmartin says that with an effective pre-season, Barnes can launch a challenge to start the season as Colchester’s first-choice.

Gilmartin told the Daily Gazette: “Dillon's progressed a lot - I’ve seen it and the manager’s seen it and if he comes back in pre-season and does well, you never know.

“He knows he’s there and is very close to it, because the manager had faith in him (against Swindon and Exeter) and I was delighted for him.

“He went on loan to Welling and did really well there and came back in, got himself on the bench and he’s just progressed throughout the season.

“From coming in and the progression he’s made to where he’s got himself to in my first season of being here, he’s taken on everything we’ve asked.

“He’s been a joy to work with and it’s a credit to him.

“Dillon got himself into a position to warrant an opportunity to get in the team for the last couple of games of the season.

“That’s where he’s put himself with the work he’s put in and how much he’s progressed, this year.”

Barnes conceded just once in the two games he played at the end of the last campaign, against Swindon Town and Exeter City.

The former Fulham youngster looked confident for Colchester, despite a lack of senior football experience.

“He’s had the capability to play and he’s done everything we’ve asked of him, this season,” added former Watford keeper Gilmartin.

“He was calm and assured and that’s what you want from a goalkeeper.

“You want them to be assertive and the back four want him to be, too.

“Dillon has come in and it can sometimes be difficult to fill a goalkeeper like Sam Walker’s shoes but it’s a credit for him to get to the point in his career when he played his first league game.

“I think he’ll go on and have a very good career.”