Tony English tasted his fair share of glory during a long and distinguished Colchester United career.

And the U’s double-winning skipper believes his former club may be on the cusp of a new era of success.

English, 48, who won the non-league double with Colchester in 1992, watched his old side rack up a fourth straight win by beating Bradford City on Tuesday night.

It was the former U’s favourite’s first visit of the season to the Weston Homes Community Stadium - and he was impressed by what he saw.

English told the Daily Gazette: “Looking at that performance, I think the play-offs should be the minimum.

“I really like the goalkeeper and the defence looks very composed.

“I love the type of football they’re playing and it’s all on the floor.

“They’ve got a lot of pace and it’s really pleasing to watch.

“What I also like is the work ethic and the midfield are working their socks off, as is (Marvin) Sordell up front.

“He’s played in the Premier League and when other players see that, it breeds confidence and they feed off each other.

“I still harp on to three weeks ago and the result they got at Sheffield United.

“They must have come back on that bus feeling so buoyant.

“They were struggling a bit up until then but they came away from that with three points.

“They then beat Gillingham who were top of the table and to then go away to Swindon and get another win was fantastic.

“They followed that up with this win and it’s four on the trot now and the atmosphere in the ground is great.”

English, who made more than 500 league and cup appearances for Colchester, is hoping his former side’s superb run of form will boost their attendance for this weekend’s clash with in-form Bury.

“If you can start getting 6,000-7,000 fans here week in, week out the players will thrive on it, believe me,” said former centre-half English.

“We all harp on about Layer Road but 5,000 there used to be loud.

“If you can get that same kind of atmosphere here like you did for the last game of the season against Preston, the players will be itching to come out on the pitch.”