Colchester United legend Karl Duguid will have split loyalties when the U’s take on Tottenham, the club he has supported all his life, in Saturday’s mouth-watering FA Cup fourth round tie.

A sell-out crowd, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, should be treated to a fantastic Cup tie, even though the U’s are currently squatting at the foot of League One, and Tottenham are riding high in the top four of the Premier League.

Former fans’ favourite Duguid, who rattled up a remarkable 418 league appearances (476 games in all competitions) during his 16 years with the Essex club, has the blue-and-white of Colchester running through his veins.

But he is also a big Spurs fan.

“It’s such a big day for the football club,” enthused Duguid.

“I’ve been a Tottenham fan since a boy, so you could say that I have split loyalties. But really I want Colchester to win, and then Tottenham to go on and win the Premier League!

“That would be my ideal outcome, and personally I don’t see why there can’t be a Cup upset this weekend.

“There’s usually a Cup shock, somewhere along the line, so why not at Colchester? Everything points towards it.”

Ex-U’s skipper Duguid played in virtually every position for the club, including full-back, winger, midfielder and striker, after graduating from the U’s youth team in the mid-1990s. The 37-year-old made his professional debut in 1995, and made his farewell appearance as a substitute at Walsall on the final day of the 2013-14 season (May 3, 2014).

One of the highlights of his glittering career, with the U’s, was playing in an FA Cup fifth round tie at Chelsea in 2006. The U’s, managed by Phil Parkinson, went 1-0 up that day before eventually losing 3-1.

“That was a great day for Colchester United, and so should this Saturday be,” said Duguid.

“It’s a chance for the players to go out there and express themselves, against one of the best teams in the country.

“Tottenham have one of the strongest squads in the Premier League. They will be formidable, whatever team they put out.”