Colchester United legend Karl Duguid has backed Aidy Boothroyd to emulate Phil Parkinson and lead the U’s to promotion.

The Plymouth Argyle midfielder watched his first U’s game at the Weston Homes Community Stadium last weekend, the 2-2 draw with Exeter City.

Duguid – who clocked up nearly 450 league and cup appearances during a 12-year stint with the club – helped Colchester win promotion to the second tier for the first time in their history, in 2006.

The 31-year-old sees similarities between Parkinson’s glory boys and Boothroyd’s present-day U’s side.

And the former Colchester skipper believes his old club have what it takes to return to the Coca-Cola Championship.

Duguid told the Gazette: “They’ve done really well over the last few weeks.

“Aidy Boothroyd has brought that little bit more steel to the team and that was exactly what Phil Parkinson did when he first came in.

“They are their own people but there a lot of similarities between them, too.

“Aidy Boothroyd’s Watford teams were always hard to beat and they were always very workmanlike. They also seem very good at set pieces and that was something we were also very strong at, when we went up.

“You also have to have the right mixture of young players who have got no fear and those who know what it’s all about “They’re looking strong and I think they can push on this season.

“If you want to go up, you have to be hard to beat.

“It’s a hard division to get out of but they have a great chance because they have a manager who knows what it takes to get a team promoted.

“It would be nice to be playing for Plymouth against Colchester in the Championship next season.”