LONG-SERVING Tom Lapslie is on the brink of reaching a personal milestone for Colchester United.

The 25-year-old is in line to make his 150th league appearance for the U's when they host Walsall in a crucial game at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Lapslie, who is currently Colchester's second-longest serving player behind Tom Eastman, made his debut for the club in an FA Cup third-round tie at Cardiff City back in January, 2015.

And his first league appearance for the U's came a few weeks later, in a 2-0 home win over Leyton Orient in League One.

Only Eastman and goalkeeper Dean Gerken - in the current U's first team squad - have made more league appearances for the U's than Lapslie.

Lapslie has made five league starts so far, in the current campaign.

His start to the season was disrupted last summer after he underwent a knee operation, while subsequent hamstring and groin problems have since limited the midfielder’s involvement.

But the U’s academy product came off the bench to make his first appearance for six weeks in his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Bradford City, last month.

And now he is back in the fold, looking to help Colchester secure their League Two status with five games remaining.

Colchester head into their home clash with Walsall sitting four points above the relegation zone.

Lapslie said: “The mood is good – obviously no-one is happy when you don’t win games or pick up a result.

“But you just have to keep the mood high and keep positive.

“There’s always a next opportunity in the next game.

“We have a good squad so it’s a bit strange to be down there but the league table doesn’t lie – I’m quite a big believer in that.

“You get what you deserve at the end of it so if we work hard enough between now and the end of the season and play well enough, we’ll be fine and that’s all we’ve got to look to do – just worry about ourselves.”