Colchester United are set to come up against one of their former star players, Alex Gilbey, when they travel to promotion rivals MK Dons this weekend.

Midfielder Gilbey was a success story of the U’s modernised Academy, based at Florence Park in Tiptree, rattling up 110 league appearances for the Essex club before his move to Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2016, on a three-year deal.

The 24-year-old spent just a year at the Championship club, having been sidelined by a knee injury for a few months, and has been plying his trade at MK Dons for the last couple of seasons.

“Alex is a terrific boy, and one that I have a lot of time for,” insisted U’s boss John McGreal, who had a big hand in Gilbey’s development through the Academy system.

“Alex has been a shining light of our Academy. He was the first one to move on, and the club got good money for him. He has had a couple of moves, and has found himself at this level. He’s done well,” added McGreal, following today’s training session at Florence Park