Colchester United boss, Joe Dunne, expects Preston to win promotion this season.

But the Dubliner, while not under-estimating the severity of tomorrow’s test against the visiting Lilywhites, believes that his side can return to winning ways.

“We are quite confident,” insisted Dunne, before overseeing yesterday’s training session at Florence Park, Tiptree.

“We have to give Preston great respect, for how well they have been doing this season.

“They have a good manager (Simon Grayson) and are a strong outfit, but we think we can get a result.

“We’ve only played two games in a month, and so we’ve lost a bit of that momentum.

“But the last two games have helped, giving us some much-needed match-time,” added Dunne.

The U’s lost 2-0 at Port Vale, on a very heavy pitch last Tuesday week, before earning a point from a battling goalless draw at Swindon last Friday evening.

Sanchez Watt was sent off at the County Ground, and so starts the first of a three-match suspension tomorrow, but striker Jabo Ibehre will return to the squad after illness, as should teenager Maculey Bonne following a minor injury.

Tomorrow is the start of a crazy spell of fixtures for the U’s. They are at home again, against Sheffield United next Tuesday, before playing nine games during March.

“We are going to need everybody,” confirmed Dunne.

See today’s East Anglian Daily Times newspaper for much more Colchester United coverage, including an interview with midfielder Craig Eastmond.