COLCHESTER United are set to face a host of Premier League stars when they host Brentford in the Carabao Cup tonight.
The Premier League side will bring a strong squad to the JobServe Community Stadium, for the second-round tie.
Bees boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that former Liverpool midfielder Fábio Carvalho will start against the U's, following his substitute appearances against the Reds and Crystal Palace, in the Premier League.
READ MORE: Six players to have represented Colchester and Brentford
Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, who also joined Brentford in the summer from Liverpool, will also start against the U's tonight.
The 22-year-old defender put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Bees, earlier this summer.
Frank has also confirmed that midfielder Yunus Emre Konak and defender Ji-soo Kim will be involved in the squad at Colchester.
Frank told the Brentford website: “Yunus was injured for three or four months, so he looked a little rusty at the beginning of pre-season, but he picked up towards the end and I like more and more what I’m seeing from him.
“But there is still adaptation as he has come in from the Turkish league. He is involved in the squad tomorrow, so let’s see if he is starting or not.
“Ji-soo had a really good pre-season and impressed me with his performances. He is also involved in the squad tomorrow, so let’s see what will happen.
“Both of them are players that I can’t see going out on loan right now; I think the best thing for them is to train with us and our principles and intensity.”
Frank says he has full respect for U's boss Danny Cowley and his side, ahead of tonight's game.
He added: “We respect everyone.
READ MORE: Danny Cowley wants Colchester to cause another cup upset
“A cup game is extremely difficult, and we will take it seriously. We really want to go on a cup run.
“[Danny Cowley] is a well-organised coach. He’s got a long career behind him; he achieved some fantastic things with Lincoln City and I thought he did well at Huddersfield in many aspects.
“A cup game is extremely difficult, and we will take it seriously. We really want to go on a cup run.
“He will set them up well and he will do everything he can to disrupt us and try to win the game.
“We need to be on it. It’s up to us to perform and show our best, and if we do that we will win the game.
“We lost to Gillingham after a draw on penalties and we played a 1-1 with Newport and got through on penalties, so I’m fully aware about what is waiting for us and I know it will be very difficult.”
Tonight will see Colchester host Brentford in the Carabao Cup second round for the second time in two years, following the 2022 meeting between the teams.
On that occasion, goals from Keane Lewis-Potter and Mads Bech Sorensen sealed the Bees a 2-0 victory.
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