By Stuart WatsonCOLCHESTER United fans can expect some exciting signings in the New Year.The high-flying League One club currently have former Newcastle United star Nolberto Solano on trial with view to a possible signing - and manager Aidy Boothroyd says there could be some more surprise arrivals at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Stuart Watson

By Stuart Watson

COLCHESTER United fans can expect some exciting signings in the New Year.

The high-flying League One club currently have former Newcastle United star Nolberto Solano on trial with view to a possible signing - and manager Aidy Boothroyd says there could be some more surprise arrivals at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“I think we can attract players like Nobby now. We'll see how that (Solano's trial) pans out now, but come January I think we can bring in some players that people might think we have no right to get.”

Boothroyd - who is in talks with Championship clubs Watford and Barnsley over keeping successful loanees John-Joe O'Toole and Kayode Odejayi at the Essex club next month - also had Solano on trial during his time as Watford manager.

The creative midfielder - who turned 35 earlier this month - won the Peruvian championship with Universitario de Deportes last season, but has spent the last four days at the Weston Homes Community Stadium after Boothroyd invited him for a 'trial'.

Solano - nicknamed Nobby - played over 250 times for Newcastle in the Premiership during two spells and has also played for Aston Villa and West Ham. The creative midfielder - famed for his dead ball skills - also has over 100 caps for Peru.

“Nobby is a player that I've got a lot of respect for,” said Boothroyd, whose side have undertaken a 'mini pre-season' in the gym this week after heavy snow saw last Saturday's game against Carlisle postponed.

“I tried to sign him for Watford but he went off to America because there was more money and it was nicer weather than Hertfordshire!

“He now plays for a team in Peru who have just won the championship there and I asked him to come over and see if he's still got what he had and to see if he likes us.

“It isn't a trial - I wouldn't disrespect somebody of Nobby's calibre to ask him to 'trial' for us - it's more of a relationship.

“It's a little bit of a date at the moment. He's looking at us and I'm looking at him. As is usually the case, you don't get married on a first date, you've got to go out a few times before you make any big decisions.

“Nobby's a good guy, a terrific pro and you don't get a 100 caps for your country if you are not a good player. When he came to Watford he was at a different level to what we had there. I've got a lot of respect for the guy and, if it goes well, there might be something we can do.”

With just over a week until the transfer window reopens, Boothroyd added: “I want to bring in players that will give us a variety of attacking and defending options. Everybody gets very excited when the transfer window comes around but I will have to be very careful.

“In an ideal world all the shopping would have been done in August, but I came in September. It's important that, one; I don't disrupt the nice balance that we have got, but two; I think we also need to spice it up a bit.

“That might be in February with a loan player or it might be earlier in January, I don't know the answer to that yet.”

- Follow the EADT's U's reporter on www.twitter.com by searching for Stuart_Watson. Full Southend v Colchester match preview in Boxing Day's paper.