Femi Akinwande says his rapid rise from non-league football to Colchester United’s starting line-up “feels like a dream”.

The 19-year-old striker made his first-ever Football League appearance when he started for the U’s in their entertaining 3-3 draw with Wigan Athletic, last weekend.

Akinwande was still plying his trade with Ryman League division north outfit Maldon and Tiptree little more than four months ago.

The forward signed for Colchester last November on a deal until the end of the season and has been elevated to the U’s first-team squad over recent weeks, leading to his first-ever senior appearance against the Latics.

Akinwande told the Daily Gazette: “It’s been a very good year for me.

“Coming from Maldon, signing for Colchester’s under-21s and then making my debut, it feels like a dream really.

“Colchester United have given me the chance to do well and have shown confidence in me, which has been good for me.

“My target between now and the end of the season is hopefully to play a bit more and get some minutes under my belt.”

Akinwande admits he did not expect to be named in Kevin Keen’s starting line-up last weekend.

“I only found out on the day of the match that I was starting and it came as a big surprise to me,” said the former Millwall academy player.

“The manager told me before the game to work hard for the team and to carry on what I’d been doing.

“It was a very good experience, playing against Wigan.

“Over the last few weeks, I’d been training with the first team and travelling to games with them, so it’s been a good experience so far.

“It’s happened very quickly but the gaffer has shown confidence in me and hopefully I can do a job for the team - hopefully, this is just the start.”

Akinwande’s move to Colchester from Maldon is part of a link-up between the two clubs, with several of the Jammers’ youngsters training with the U’s under-21 squad.

The teenager netted 12 times for the non-league side in the early part of the season, before making the switch to Colchester.

Akinwande added: “Coming from Maldon and Tiptree, the physicality of that league made me grow as a player and help me deal with situations like this.

“The whole experience I had there has been good.”