U's Izzet wants a birthday bonus

And the perfect present for the U’s midfielder would be to beat his former manager Phil Parkinson and his high-flying Charlton Athletic side.

Izzet has missed Colchester’s last three matches through suspension, following his red card at Southampton.

The midfield dynamo - who is 29 today - is itching to get back to action and impress U’s boss Aidy Boothroyd.

Izzet told the Gazette: “The three weeks have really dragged by and I'm champing at the bit to get back in.

“Hopefully, it should be a cracking game.

“Charlton will come to us full of confidence and we'll be confident, as well.

“We're unbeaten in a few games now and hopefully we'll come out with the three points.

“A win would be a great birthday present and it's worked out well, to play Charlton on my birthday.

“It's up to the manager who he picks in the starting line-up.

“But it'll be nice to hopefully be back in the squad and getting changed with the boys again.”

If selected tonight, Izzet will come up against ex-boss Parkinson, who he played under for more than three years with the U’s.

And he will also face his former team Charlton, with whom he began his career as a trainee.

However, Izzet said all he is concerned about this evening is helping Colchester secure three points.

“That's the way football is; you play against old managers sometimes,” said Izzet, who left the Addicks for the U’s in 2001.

“It's just another game, as far as I'm concerned.

“I've got nothing to prove so we’ll just get on with it and approach it like any other game.

“I came through the youth system at Charlton but I never played in the first team there and I don’t have any great feelings for them.”

Izzet has so far played just 36 minutes under Boothroyd, following his dismissal at Southampton earlier this month.

The experienced midfielder maintains he did not deserve to be sent off at St Mary’s.

He said: “People have got different views on the sending off.

“I still don't think it was a red card but it is what it is.

“I've done the crime and I've done the time so now it’s a matter of not doing it again.

“You learn your lessons and I won’t be making that mistake again very soon, I can tell you that.”

Meanwhile, Izzet said the arrival of boss Boothroyd has lifted the U’s players.

He added: “The manager is good to work under and the atmosphere is fantastic.

“He’s very professional, even down to the smallest things.

“Those minute things help and it will only help in the long term as well.

“I think you can look at the lads and see there’s a real camaraderie and that’s really important.”