Anthony’s loan could pave the way for a Portsmouth permanent move.

“Colchester Eye Sensational Summer Coup as Portsmouth Star Nears Return!”

Anthony Scully is edging closer to a full recovery, and Colchester United are hoping his return to form will put them in prime position to land the Portsmouth forward on a permanent deal this summer.

The 25-year-old attacker has endured a frustrating, injury-hit season, managing just one league start across two loan spells with the U’s. However, after making steady progress following an ankle injury, Scully is back on the grass and nearing a long-awaited comeback.

With his contract at Fratton Park set to expire at the end of the season, Colchester see this loan spell as a golden opportunity to stake their claim for his signature.

Colchester Boss: Bringing Him Back Was a ‘No Brainer’

Head coach Danny Cowley, who knows Scully well, explained why securing his return to the JobServe Community Stadium made perfect sense.

“I think it’s quite a unique situation with Anthony,” Cowley said.

“He’s obviously a boy that we know well. He had an incredible time at Lincoln where the front three was him, Brennan Johnson, and Morgan Rogers.

“Anthony is a top, top player, and that form at Lincoln got him the moves that he subsequently had, to Wigan and then Portsmouth.

“We’re thankful to Portsmouth—the way that the deal is structured means that we’re going to have to start to pay a contribution on his wage if he’s back playing.

“We know that if we can get him going, when he’s out of contract in the summer, we’ll be in a really strong position to hopefully have him stay with us, so it’s a no-brainer.

“It’s structured in a sensible way, so we’re thankful to Portsmouth for that.”

The Road to Recovery

Scully’s injury struggles stemmed from metalwork in his ankle, which limited his mobility and put strain on his knee and hip. The former West Ham United youngster hasn’t played since Colchester’s FA Cup defeat to Swindon Town last November. However, with the plate now removed, his movement has drastically improved, and he’s closing in on full fitness.

“He’s had a frustrating time with injuries for sure, but we think that we’ve got to the bottom of it,” Cowley added.

“He’s obviously had a nasty ankle break, but the metal plate has now been taken out, and the ankle is now moving so much better.

“His ankle didn’t have much range in it at all, and as a consequence, it put a lot of stress through the knee and through the hip. But he’s now back on the grass and running.”

With Scully on the brink of a comeback, Colchester are playing the long game—hoping that by reigniting his career, they can convince him to make his stay permanent. Will this gamble pay off, or will other clubs swoop in when the summer window opens?