Ben Gordon insists he had no qualms about playing in a different role for Colchester United against his home-town club Bradford City.

Gordon, who has played the majority of his career at full-back, made his first U’s start of the calendar year after playing in an advanced left-sided position in the 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.

The former Chelsea youngster was only told on the morning of the game that he would be playing, after midfielder George Moncur was forced to withdraw from the U’s squad due to illness.

It was a timely return to Colchester’s starting line-up for Gordon, who was born in Bradford and went to school there until the age of 14.

Gordon said: “It was the first time in my career that I’ve played at Bradford, so I had a lot of friends and family at the game.

“It was nice to be back in the team and I was delighted.

“With me being a left-back, it was more about me doing a job for the team and sitting in for the midfield and push on from there.

“The gaffer pulled me in (on Saturday) and told me I was playing and asked me if I was comfortable with it.

“If I’m playing in the team, it doesn’t really matter where I play – if I’m out there, I’ll do my best for the team.

“I’ve played there a few times but mainly when I was younger.”

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United, including five pages of coverage of the U's game with Bradford City, see Monday's Daily Gazette.