The on-loan Wolves youngster responded to a meeting with Cowley and assistant head coach Nicky Cowley on Tuesday by scoring a hat-trick for the U’s under-21s against QPR later that day.

Chiwome had been left out of Colchester’s final matchday 18 at Northampton Town last weekend but is now pushing to force his way back into contention for Saturday’s home clash with Walsall.

Cowley revealed that he and Nicky Cowley had sat down with the 20-year-old to go through footage of his game and remind him of the qualities which persuaded the U’s to bring him to North Essex.

“On Tuesday afternoon, we had a meeting with him which we often do with the players,” said Cowley.

“We sat him down and just showed him his clips and the things that he can do and that he can bring to the team and the reason that we signed him, because sometimes you’ve just got to remind them.

“He’s got an unbelievable ability to run. He can run and most importantly, he wants to run.

“He’s a brilliant presser and he can give a team real energy and intensity, with the way that he presses.”

Boost - Colchester United loan striker Leon Chiwome (Image: CU-FC.COM)

Cowley believes Chiwome has at times moved away from some of his natural strengths while building his fitness, following a disrupted start to his Colchester spell after arriving on loan from Wolves, this summer.

The U’s boss wants to see the forward playing on the front foot and threatening opponents in behind, rather than spending too much time with his back to goal.

“He can play with real penetration and maybe because he hasn’t had his fitness, he’s been playing more with the back to goal and more trying to link the play,” said Cowley.

“Whereas previously, he’s always had his shoulders down the pitch and running off the back of people, which is where we think his attributes are.

“Sometimes, you just need to strip it back and we said ‘three things’: the energy and intensity against the ball, the penetration with it and try to keep the ball up the pitch for us, because he’s six foot two and he’s got some really good attributes in that area as well.”

Cowley had already detected signs of improvement when Chiwome featured for Colchester against Maldon and Tiptree in the Essex Senior Cup, the previous week.

He feels a more consistent spell of training is now beginning to tell.

“For him, it’s fitness really and you could sense that he’d had more regular training and a higher level of fitness,” added Cowley.

An outstanding display from start to finish for the young U's as the U21 side sweep past QPR U21 with a huge 5-1 victory in the Professional Development League on home turf. Across the two halves, Leon Chiwome scores his first hat-trick for the U's ,and Kaion Lisbie smashes in two goals. Read the match report now: https://t.co/zBvA0Ap2VB #ColU | #WeAreUnited

— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) October 27, 2026

“As a consequence of that, he was able to do the things that he’s good at, time and time again.

“And guess what? That gives you confidence and it all comes together.

“We left that meeting feeling ‘that was good’ and it was great that he did well in the under-21 game.”

Chiwome arrived at Colchester this summer after a difficult period with injuries, including an ACL problem followed by a serious hamstring injury.

Cowley used footage of the striker playing at the highest level for Wolves as part of Tuesday’s meeting, highlighting what he has already demonstrated in senior football.

“The only reason he was available was because he’d had a really tricky couple of years with injury,” said Cowley.

“But he’s a boy who’s played in the Premier League and when he came in on Tuesday, we showed him the games he’d started against Burnley and Aston Villa, back to back.

“I think before that he’d made his debut against Coventry in the FA Cup and then played against West Ham, in the Premier League.

“Just showing him those clips I think reminded him of the attributes and the levels he’s capable of.”

Cowley is also keen for patience to be shown towards Chiwome as the young striker attempts to rebuild his rhythm following his injury problems.

The Colchester boss feels young players can quickly become the subject of judgement when circumstances behind their performances are not always apparent.

Forward thinking - Colchester United's on-loan Wolves forward Leon Chiwome (Image: Richard Blaxall)

“It’s hard for a young player, because we live in a world where everyone is so quick to criticise and they’re only young boys,” said Cowley.

“I always try to remind myself and it seems a long time ago now but where would I have been, 30 years ago, with everyone making such an instant opinion.

“He hadn’t had loads of rhythm and came with a small injury that we were kind of having to manage him through.

“The opening period of his time with us was quite stop-start and he just hadn’t been able to find the rhythm, which players need.

“But over the last couple of weeks, he’s found some rhythm and that can give them confidence which is so important, to believe in yourself.”