Cambridge United attacker Saikou Janneh set for some competition after impressive performance against Ipswich Town

Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner believes that there is a ‘big season’ ahead of Saikou Janneh - but he has warned the winger that he is intending to add some competition for his place over the coming weeks.

After joining the U’s on a free transfer last summer, Janneh struggled to earn himself a regular place in Bonner’s starting line-up and subsequently spent the second half of 2022/23 in Sky Bet League Two on loan at AFC Wimbledon.

With 12 months left to run on his deal, Janneh has now returned to the Abbey Stadium and caught the eye during today’s 2-1 pre-season friendly victory over higher-level Ipswich Town.

The Gambian attacker scored United’s equaliser via a deflection and also had a goal ruled out for offside during what was a lively 60 minutes on the pitch.

Speaking after that performance Bonner talked up the 23-year-old’s potential, yet the plan is to add at least two wide players to the squad - hopefully before the new Sky Bet League One season gets under way on Saturday, August 5 at home against Oxford United.

“We’re going to sign two more wingers yet so it will be a tough one for him. He’s going to have to be good,” said Bonner.

“He’s blisteringly quick so he can turn defence into attack well, to the point that nobody can actually catch him so he ends up having to be the one that finishes it. It takes a nice deflection but he’ll take that.

“He’s certainly got the ability to be a really exciting attacking player. He’s just got to get that reliability with the ball right.

“His work ethic is brilliant and his understanding without the ball is improving, so that’s good.

“It’s a big season for him but that’s the area of the pitch at the moment where we’re lacking depth. Hopefully we can solve that with a couple (of signings) this week, but we’ve got six weeks until the window shuts so we’ve got some time.

“There’s some really good players that haven’t signed anywhere yet and we’re in some conversations with some good ones.

“Who knows how long it will be. It’s not us not wanting to do it, it’s them not committing yet.

“We might get somewhere this week with a couple but we’ll certainly get somewhere before the season starts with some quite good players.”