Karl Duguid admits it would be a “fairytale ending” to pull on the Colchester United shirt one final time this weekend.

But the U’s player-coach insisted he will celebrate bringing the curtain down on his successful career at Walsall - whether he gets on the pitch or not.

Colchester fans will celebrate Duguid Day when Colchester play their final game of the season at the Banks’s Stadium, on Saturday.

The Daily Gazette will give away a free Karl Duguid mask with every paper tomorrow, to mark the last day of his playing career before he officially retires from football.

With the U’s virtually assured of their League One status for another year, some U’s supporters are calling for their former skipper to play in the match.

However, Duguid, who has clocked up more than 400 league and cup appearances for Colchester during two spells at the club, has stressed he is in the dark on whether or not he will feature against the Saddlers.

Duguid said: “It’ll be a fairytale ending for me to play a part at some stage against Walsall but we’ll see.

“I haven’t spoken to the gaffer about it and it’s his decision.

“I’m just glad I can say thank you on the last day of the season and I’m looking forward to it."

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including an interview with goalkeeper Sam Walker and Duguid's Diary, see Thursday's Daily Gazette.