Colchester United fans will tonight enjoy the first of two visits from Premier League teams in the space of four days to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, with West Ham the visitors.

Colchester United fans will tonight enjoy the first of two visits from Premier League teams in the space of four days to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, with West Ham the visitors.

The friendly clash between the U’s and the Hammers is an attractive one and almost 7,000 tickets have already been sold.

On Friday night, Spurs are in town, with a capacity crowd expected.

It’s positive stuff for Joe Dunne’s side who are currently unbeaten in pre-season and who are sure to look forward to tackling such high-class opposition.

It has certainly left U’s captain Kem Izzet looking forward, not just to the coming couple of high-profile friendlies, but the season as a whole.

“As far as I know, there isn’t another club who came back to pre-season training earlier than us,” Izzet said.

“So the Gaffer has had plenty of time out on the training ground with us to put his way of thinking into us.

“It has been great to have the ball out from day one of training, well day two because the first day was the fitness testing we had to endure up at the University.

“We have to endure it every year but you still don’t get used to it and it is still extremely hard.

“It’s hard work because you have to keep running faster and faster until you cannot run anymore.

“It has to be done though and by all accounts, the results proved that the lads had stuck to their summer fitness schedules.

“I can’t wait to get going again after the summer break and I hope the fans have had a good break and are looking forward to the season starting as much as I am.”

West Ham come to Essex tonight with an attractive squad that is set to include: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Adrian, Joey O’Brien, Guy Demel, Dan Potts, James Collins, Alou Diarra, Mark Noble, Matthew Taylor, Jack Collison, Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole, Kevin Nolan, Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te.

For the U’s, Craig Eastmond’s injury against Heybridge is not as bad as first feared, although he won’t play tonight.

Fans are reminded that all car parking at the ground tonight has been sold out.