IN-FORM Jevani Brown is relishing leading Colchester United's attack, this season.

That's the view of boss Steve Ball, after the forward scored two hat-tricks in the space of seven days for the U's.

Brown scored a hat-trick in Colchester's thumping 6-1 triumph over Southend United on Tuesday night, in their final Papa John's Trophy Group A match.

It was the 26-year-old's second hat-trick in the space of a week for the U's, following his treble in the 3-1 victory over Stevenage in League Two.

Brown, who now has nine goals this season, joined Colchester from Cambridge United in the summer of 2019 primarily as a number ten.

He experienced a frustrating first season with the U's but is now flourishing in the number nine role for the U's this season - and boss Ball is glad to see it.

Ball said: “Like anything, sometimes it takes time to settle and it took JB a bit of time to settle.

“I’ve put him in a different position – I’m not taking massive credit for that.

“I looked at him in training and thought, I could play him higher.

“Did we think we’d get him back? I think he’s always been there, it’s just taken a bit more time.

“There’s two different styles of football between us and Cambridge.

“I really respect Cambridge and what they do.

“JB played with Jabo Ibehre – they went in quite direct and played off bits and bobs.

“We do it a different way and up to a point, JB has had to adapt to how we play as well.

“When we have the movement, the quality and the ball retention like we had, he really enjoys that so it’s really positive.

“They were great finishes from Jevani and his second goal was sublime and a real bit of quality.

“If we give JB the service, he scores.

“He knows himself he should have got the winner in the last few minutes against Marine on Saturday when he had that one on one chance but he took his chances and they were great finishes.”