COLCHESTER United host West Ham United tonight – with boss Tony Humes urging his side to hit the ground running at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The U’s begin a run of four successive home pre-season friendlies with a game against the Hammers.

Colchester lost 12 times on home soil in League One last season, with no team losing more games in front of their own fans in the division.

But Humes’ side finished the season strongly and were undefeated in their final five matches at the Community Stadium, finishing with their memorable final-day win over Preston North End.

Humes wants his side to take that momentum into the new campaign, which starts with a home clash with Blackpool on August 8.

And he believes forthcoming friendlies against West Ham, Leyton Orient, Ipswich Town and a Fulham XI at the Community Stadium can help them do just that.

Humes said: “The next four friendlies are all at home and it’s important that we build on what we did at the end of last season.

“The games coming up will give the players different opportunities to play different styles, against different styles of teams.

“The home form – and getting consistency there – has been a difficult area.

“It’s good to have four home games so that it gives us the opportunity to get used to playing there and hopefully get some victories there, going into the new season.

“We have to build on how it ended last season – we built a lot of momentum over the last ten games and we have to take that belief forward.”

The likes of Gavin Massey, Tom Eastman and Alex Gilbey are all set to start tonight, having been substitutes in the U’s 3-2 win at Bishop’s Stortford, last weekend.

Matthew Briggs, Richard Brindley and Sammie Szmodics should feature, after sitting out the Stortford victory with minor knocks.

Frankie Kent should also be fit but the U’s will check on striker Chris Porter, who missed last weekend’s game with a slight injury.

Sam Walker and George Elokobi are both making good progress but are not yet ready to feature.

Humes added: “The players who didn’t start against Bishop’s Stortford will be starting, so it’s a bit more of an experienced team.

“It’s about building up those minutes and if we can get 70-plus minutes out of them that would be ideal, with a view to the final three friendlies.”