JOHN McGreal says being handed a home cup clash with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur is an 'unbelievable draw' for Colchester United.

The U's reward for their Carabao Cup second-round triumph at Crystal Palace is a meeting with Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs at the JobServe Community Stadium, in the week commencing September 23.

Tottenham, who were the losing 2019 Champions League finalists, have a star-studded squad including the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min and finished fourth in the Premier League, last season.

Colchester last faced the North London giants three and a half years ago in an FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Community Stadium which Spurs won 4-1.

U's head coach McGreal, who was in charge of Colchester's under-21 side at the time of the last meeting between the two clubs, said: “It’s fantastic.

“We’ve got the European Cup losing finalists – it’s an unbelievable draw for us.

“For all of the 1,300 fans who were with us (at Crystal Palace), it’s reward for everyone together.

“We needed them to get us through and it’s a fantastic draw.

“But it’s three and a half weeks away – we enjoyed it last night but that’s for the weeks to come and it’s all on Oldham this weekend.

“But I’m sure the club and the fans will be really excited.

“It’s reward for what’s gone on.

“We had Tottenham in the cup a few years ago and we could have sold it three or four times over.

“It’s going to be under the lights as well which makes it an even more intensive game and we’ve got Mr Pochettino coming down with a top, top drawer team.

“That’s to whet your appetite but we have to move on and as much as we’re all pleased with the draw, we have to get back to the bread and butter which is preparing for what we know is going to be a tough game up in the North West."

Colchester return to League Two action tomorrow, after their midweek cup heroics.

The U's travel to play Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, looking to make it back-to-back league wins.

“There was a buzz and excitement yesterday but today, we’ve been right back on the job which is the league," added McGreal.

“The boys will tell you that straight away.

“Obviously they’ve been talking about it as we all have but in the back of your mind, you’re still thinking about the Oldham game and we want to go back to back in the league.

“We didn’t have the best record against Oldham last season.

“We drew one and we lost one so we’ll be prepared right and then it’s up to us then to try and get the points.”