COLCHESTER United boss John McGreal admits he would love to keep loanee Theo Robinson at the club for longer.

But the 30-year-old striker’s future appears to remain uncertain, with the player himself appearing to hint on social media that he would be returning to parent club Southend United.

Robinson’s loan spell at Colchester is due to expire this month and talks have taken place between U’s chairman Robbie Cowling and his Blues counterpart Ron Martin about the striker’s immediate future.

The U’s are understood to have a clause as part of their deal giving them the chance to keep the experienced striker at the JobServe Community Stadium for longer.

But an Instagram post appears to show Robinson replying ‘unfortunately not’ when asked by team-mate Frank Nouble if he would be ‘staying’.

McGreal said: “I had a meeting with recruitment the other day, with the chairman (Robbie Cowling) and (director of football) Tony Humes.

“Robbie is in conversation with the Southend chairman (Ron Martin), so we’ll see where we are with that.

“He’s not our player and we haven’t got any rights to sign this player.

“With the position that Southend have been in and the way that Theo has performed of late, it’s one where we’d love to try and keep hold of him.

“That’s what the conversations will be and then it will be between the two chairman.”

Robinson has scored seven times for Colchester since joining them on loan from Southend in August.

He has made 21 league and cup appearances for the U’s and came on as a late substitute in their goalless draw at Stevenage on Saturday.

Robinson rejoined the Shrimpers in January 2017 and has scored 13 goals in 83 appearances during his second spell at Roots Hall.

The striker was previously on loan with Blues during the 2008/09 season.