DIAZ Wright has been targeted by a host of clubs looking to snap up the midfielder on loan.

But Colchester United head coach John McGreal insists the promising youngster is staying put, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Wright, who spent two months on loan at Braintree Town last season and helped them win promotion to the Vanarama National League, has been the subject of interest from several non-league clubs.

But the 20-year-old has been a permanent fixture in Colchester’s first-team squad in League Two, this season and made his first senior league start at Tranmere Rovers, last month.

And after Wright shone in the U’s Checkatrade Trophy win over Southend United last night, boss McGreal says the playmaker is going nowhere.

McGreal said: “We sent Diaz out on loan last year to get in and around men’s football but since day one of pre-season, he’s been with us.

“A lot of the clubs around the non-league circuit, especially the league below us, have been asking to get him out on loan.

“But there’s no way we’re going to let him go because he’s literally within touching distance.

“He played at Tranmere away and that gave him a lot of belief, in terms of what we want from him.

“He’s going from strength to strength and he’s been unlucky not to have figured a lot more, because of the performances of the likes of Tom Lapslie and Harry Pell.

“It’s great competition and you could see his attributes – he’s a passer and he’s definitely given us something to think about.”

McGreal said Aaron Collins is also pushing for a place in his starting line-up, after he impressed against Southend.

The Wolves loanee, making only his fourth start of the season, scored the U’s second goal in their 2-0 win in the Group B clash.

“Aaron started the first game of the season (at Notts County) and we then went with a different shape," added McGreal.

“He’s been a little bit on the peripheral really but I think you could see what he gives with the legs, the technical attributes and the running in beyond and also, he gets in the goalscoring areas.

“I’m delighted for Aaron because he works ever so hard in training and he’s such a great lad as well, so he’s brought a lot to the team spirit as well being a young boy.

“It was a fantastic team goal, working it through the thirds.

“It dropped into Mika (Mandron) in the pocket and Azza has run in beyond for a lovely little slide pass and he’s slotted it really well.”