Colchester United head coach John McGreal believes their home friendly against Gillingham tonight is the perfect test for them, ahead of the new season.

The U’s play host to the Gills at the Weston Homes Community Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm) in their final warm-up game of the pre-season before the new campaign gets started, tomorrow week.

Colchester begin their League Two season with a trip to play Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium, in eight days’ time.

And with the league action soon to get underway, U’s boss McGreal says their game against League One opposition is ideal for them, at this stage of the summer.

McGreal said: “We have a good game on against Gillingham and a lot of the boys are nearly up to speed now.

“It’ll be another test for us before we get in a good week of training and build up to the new season.

“It’s another game where we’ll be looking for the boys to get more minutes under their belt against another side from a division above us, so it’s going to be a tough game for us which is great.”

Doug Loft is set to be given more vital minutes on the pitch against his former club, having shaken off a minor calf problem.

He appeared as a second-half substitute in Colchester’s 1-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town, on Tuesday night.

Another former Gillingham player, Ryan Jackson, is set to feature against the club he left this summer, after the right-back left Priestfield to link up with the U’s last month.