Promotion can be ours: Izzet

And he feels the U’s are better equipped to do it now than they were three years ago, when they began their road to the Coca-Cola Championship under Phil Parkinson.

Izzet is one of only eight survivors from that Colchester squad that claimed one of the two automatic promotion places in League One, in that glorious 2005-06 season.

As he prepares to begin a new season in the division with the U’s at Hartlepool United on Saturday, the bustling midfielder rates Geraint Williams’ new-look squad as better equipped for success.

He told the Gazette: “The squad is better now because there’s so much strength in depth.

“There’s competition for places in all areas and that can only be a good thing.

“There will be injuries and suspensions throughout the season and I don’t think anyone can afford to take their position for granted.

“If we got injuries to players last season, we found it difficult to replace them.

“But we have a bigger squad this season to cope with that. We have the quality but we also need to be lucky.

“When we got promoted before, there were times when we weren’t playing particularly well but had a ten-minute spell when we blew teams away.”

After two seasons in the Championship, Izzet knows that expectations among Colchester fans will be high heading into the new campaign.

However, the 27-year-old – now Colchester’s longest-serving player following the departure of Karl Duguid to Plymouth Argyle – insists confidence is just as high among the players and staff.

“We don’t fear any teams in the division and it was the same in the Championship,” said the former Charlton Athletic trainee.

“We have always had that same mindset.

“Every new season that we go into we’re always asking big things of ourselves.

“The experience is there a bit more now because we’ve been in the Championship for the last two seasons.

“We’re looking for another promotion – but we know it won’t be easy.”

Meanwhile, Izzet is satisfied with the way his own preparations have gone, ahead of the big kick-off.

The midfielder has targeted more goals and was boosted by scoring a brace in the U’s 6-1 demolition of non-league Woking.

He added: “Pre-season has gone pretty well for me.

“I’ve felt fit, I got a couple of goals and I’ve felt a bit more of a goal threat.

“Now it’s down to the manager to go with me or someone else against Hartlepool.

“If it isn’t me, I will be trying my hardest to win that place in the starting line-up.”