on Dave Mooney. Okuonghae's ensuing four-match ban allowed Kent to make his first home start for the club on 16 September when the U's fell to a 3–2 defeat to Sheffield United, in which Colchester squandered a two-goal lead by conceding three goals in six second-half minutes. In Okuonghae's absence, Kent established himself as a first-team regular, and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, he was rewarded with a three-and-a-half year contract extension, which he signed on 16 October 2014. Kent once again held a starting berth for Colchester's home clash with Chesterfield on 21 October. However, less than one minute into the game, Kent fell to the ground after being struck in the head by the ball. Meanwhile, referee Darren Sheldrake allowed play to continue, as the Spireites scored through Sam Clucas. Kent then received four minutes of treatment on the field before being replaced by Magnus Okuonghae. After being stretchered off the pitch, Kent reappeared on the sidelines before the first-half ended. Following his injury, Kent returned to action in Colchester's 2–1 home defeat by Port Vale on 1 November. It would prove to be his last game of the season, after suffering a knee injury that ruled him out of action until March 2015. A slip in a training session in March set back his recovery, and he failed to regain fitness before the end of the campaign. 2015–16 season Kent returned to first-team action in the 3–2 EFL Trophy defeat at Northampton Town on 1 September 2015, playing the full 90 minutes. After making 29 appearances in the 2015–16 season, Kent was named as Colchester's Young Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards on 13 May 2016. 2016–17 season Early in the 2016–17 season, Kent was close to leaving the club on loan following his recovery from tendonitis. However, in November 2016, manager John McGreal switched tactics to utilise three central defenders, and Kent began a run of form alongside Tom Eastman and George Elokobi that would see Colchester through a nine-game unbeaten run. As a result, Kent was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month for December. Kent was then ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering ruptured ankle ligaments during Colchester's 2–1 win against Barnet on 11 February 2017, having made 15 first-team appearances. 2017–18 season Kent scored his first