COLCHESTER United boss, Joe Dunne, has already faced up to the reality of losing his skipper, and star midfielder, Anthony Wordsworth.

Dunne admits that Wordsworth is likely to be snapped up, in the transfer market, when his contract expires next summer, or even when the transfer window reopens in January.

“Will I lose Anthony? Probably,” confessed Dunne during yesterday’s press conference.

“That’s the way of football at the moment, I am afraid, and I will probably lose a few more.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he (Wordsworth) left even before the end of the season. If somebody came in, then he might.

“He’s over 24, so he’s on a free at the end of the season. He’s not a free in January, but he probably wouldn’t be as much as he would be if he was under a longer contract.

“He’s been a great servant to us, and he continues to be, and if he doesn’t go, it’s fine. He is pivotal to what we were trying to do at the club, and we don’t want to lose our best players.

“Our goal is to find the next Anthony Wordsworth, and I believe they are coming through,” added Dunne.