Former Colchester United skipper Karl Duguid is back at the Essex club, although at the moment only for pre-season training.

FORMER Colchester United skipper Karl Duguid is back at the Essex club, although at the moment only for pre-season training.

Duguid is a free agent, having been released by troubled Plymouth Argyle at the end of last season. The Pilgrims suffered a second successive relegation into League Two and are haunted by money problems. They remain in administration.

The versatile Duguid, now 33, made his debut for the U’s as a 17-year-old and went on to rattle up more than 400 senior appearances before moving onto Plymouth three years ago.

Duguid is on the look-out for a new club, and is currently sharpening up his fitness with the U’s.

However, he is not set to feature in the U’s first pre-season friendly, at Maldon & Tiptree this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Defender Magnus Okuonghae will be the only senior player not to figure, as a precaution following his ankle operation towards the end of last season.

He has made a full recovery and is now just returning to fitness, so will join in some of the later pre-season games.

Manager John Ward remains in the hunt for new players, especially front-men, as the only strikers at his disposal are Steven Gillespie and Kayode Odejayi.

Maldon & Tiptree, of the Ryman League Division One North, have slashed their prices for tonight’s friendly.

Adult tickets are priced �5, under-12s can gain admission for just �3, and a family ticket of one adult and two under-12s costs �10.