John McGreal admits it will be a ‘proud moment’ returning to his former club Tranmere Rovers as a manager for the first time tomorrow.

But the Colchester United head coach insists there will be no room for any sentiment until after the final whistle is blown, at Prenton Park.

McGreal is still a popular figure at Tranmere, where he rose through the youth ranks and more than 200 appearances as a player between 1990 and 1999 before leaving to join Ipswich Town.

The U’s boss, who was born only a few miles away from Tranmere’s ground, will have family and friends at tomorrow’s game – but insists all he is thinking about is trying to win the game for Colchester.

McGreal said: “It’ll be a proud moment for myself and the family to go back but it’s not about me, it’s about our football club going to a tough place in front of 6,000-7,000 fans.

“I’ve been there before with Ipswich as a player but it’ll be a little bit different as a manager.

“It’s great to go back there but we have a job to do and win a game of football.

“After the game, we can have a chat but Micky (Mellon) I’m sure will be exactly the same.

“It’s not about me – it’s about Colchester and us going there trying to get three points and maintain this great start that we had.

“Tranmere are one of the biggest clubs in this division.

“It’s a brilliant club – they’re a real family club and they have a hardcore of fans who follow them home and away.

“It’s great that they’re back in the Football League and they’ll be striving to go up the leagues, as well and they have the power to do that because they are a big club.”

McGreal said playing under respected coach Warwick Rimmer had a big influence on the rest of his career.

Rimmer was in charge of Tranmere’s youth set-up for more than two decades, bringing through the likes of McGreal, Alan Rogers and Jason Koumas.

“He was unbelievable for me and a couple of other ex-team-mates,” added the U’s boss.

“He had a huge production roll of good players coming through.

“He had a big influence on how we were able to manage our own dressing rooms at such a young age, being able to take responsibility on our shoulders gives you that little bit of a backbone in the game and every player needs that because you do get your highs and lows.

“I’ve been able to draw strength from how Warwick produced as young lads and get that first step on the ladder, to have the opportunity to play football.”