Cambridge United striker Ryan Loft looking to put tough start behind him after scoring first goal for League One club against Mansfield Town

Ryan Loft is hopeful that his difficult start to life with Cambridge United is behind him after he netted his first goal for the club on Saturday.

Having arrived from Port Vale during the summer, the striker missed the majority of pre-season through injury and he has struggled for form and fitness ever since.

However, after impressing on just his fourth League One start of the campaign at Bolton Wanderers earlier this month, the 27-year-old followed it up at the weekend with a memorable strike during the 3-2 victory over Mansfield Town.

The visitors failed to clear Josh Stokes’ near-post corner in the 47th minute and after the ball broke loose, Loft lashed his effort into the roof of the net before Mansfield goalkeeper Christy Pym could react.

“It’s something that I’ve not shown as yet but I’ve definitely got the confidence and the ability to do them things,” said Loft, who signed a three-year deal with the option of a fourth season upon joining the U’s in the summer.

“The ball came over and Kell (Watts) ended up on it. I think he was getting ready to play it out wide to then get it back into the box but I just came steaming ahead and put my foot through it.

“The next thing I know I’m off celebrating with the fans and the players.”

The challenge for Loft now is to find some consistency – both in terms of availability and his performances on the pitch.

And the former Tottenham Hotspur trainee believes that his hard work on the training ground is starting to ‘come to fruition’.

He added: “I take full accountability for how my season has gone so far. It’s not to do with anyone in particular, it’s more down to myself remembering that I’ve got the ability to do what I did today.

“I’ve been working hard in training every day with the coaches to get better and sharper. I think it’s coming to fruition and hopefully it’s at the right time where I can really help the team going forward.”

Loft’s recent displays have been a big boost for head coach Garry Monk, who is having to make do without fellow strikers Dan Nlundulu and Shayne Lavery – neither of whom are expected to return from injury until March at the earliest.

Attacking reinforcements are expected to arrive in due course, but Monk has also backed Loft to continue making key contributions.

“I was delighted for Lofty because it’s been difficult for him,” said the United boss.

“He came in and missed pretty much the whole of pre-season. Any player will tell you that if you miss pre-season it’s difficult.

“Then when he came back in after pre-season he picked up a couple of niggling injuries so it’s always been a bit stop-start for him and then it’s difficult to perform.

“But in the last couple of games I’m not only happy for him because of his goal, he’s also started to show his capabilities to everyone.

“Our fans can see in these last couple of games what he can bring and what he’s capable of.”