Colchester United head coach John McGreal believes his side’s friendly against his former club Ipswich Town tonight represents a huge step up for his team.

The U’s continue their preparations for the new League Two campaign with a game against Mick McCarthy’s side, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Colchester have enjoyed a productive pre-season so far, winning all three of their warm-up games.

However, McGreal concedes that a game against Championship opposition tonight will be his players’ biggest test of the summer, to date.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “It’s going to be a huge step up for us now, from what we’ve played.

“The Airbus game last week was a step up for us from the two previous games and Ipswich is another huge step up.

“But it’s pre-season and it’s all about the players getting minutes – that’s all I’m thinking about for the boys, along with no injuries before we go into the most important game which is Hartlepool.”

Colchester’s game against Ipswich tonight will see McGreal take charge of the U’s first team for the first time at the Community Stadium since his appointment as Kevin Keen’s successor, last May.

He will be facing his former club, having made more than 150 league and cup appearances for Town during a five-year spell at Portman Road as a player between 1999 and 2004.

However, McGreal says tonight’s match is all about Colchester for him and ensuring that his players take another step to being in tip-top condition for their curtain-raiser at Hartlepool United, on August 6.

“It’s a great game but it’s not about myself and Ipswich – it’s about our football club.

“We’re looking after our players and making sure that they get the right minutes and they get the rest time and the recovery time, because then we have another game on Saturday (against Chelmsford City) and then another game on Monday (against Crystal Palace).

“There’ll be games coming in quick succession and that’s my thought process, over the pre-season.”