Former Colchester United stalwart Kem Izzet believes they need to go all out for victory against Preston North End on Sunday.

The ex-U's skipper - who made more than 400 appearances for the club before leaving them in 2013 - says his old team have nothing to lose when they take on the promotion-chasing Lilywhites.

Colchester are likely to need to win and hope other results go their way if they are to remain in League One.

And Izzet said: “Colchester have to go into it like it’s a cup final.

“I think it will be a very open game but that could be dangerous on our part.

“I think we can score goals but Preston are more than capable of doing that, too.

“Colchester need to go for it and they have nothing to lose now, in their position.

“I don’t think there’s any point in them trying to nick one on the counter attack.

“It would be silly to do anything different, especially after such a decent display against Swindon.

“Even if we score early, I hope we don’t sit back and hope that one goal is enough, because I’m not so sure that it would be.

“It’s all or nothing now.

“And if Colchester can get a win you never know, because teams down the bottom will lose, that’s for sure.

“They just have to concentrate on themselves and see what happens but Preston have got a bit of pressure on them too, by the way."

Izzet said staying in League One would be massive boost for everyone at Colchester and their fans.

And he believes they can be a stronger force, if they can defy the odds and avoid the drop.

“It would be amazing for Colchester to stay up," added Izzet, who has just helped Needham Market win promotion from Ryman League division one north.

“I must admit, at one stage I couldn’t see them coming back.

“They’ve done amazingly well to stay in it and give themselves this chance, on the final day of the season.

“I would imagine it would get some fans back on their side if they can stay up.

“And if they can keep the nucleus of that team together, I think they’d have a good chance to build on what they’ve done.

“Some supporters are for the management team and some are against it and that’s their opinion.

“But if we were to get out of trouble, I think a few of them would have to eat a bit of humble pie."

For a full preview of the U's game against Preston, including interview with Tony Humes and Bongani Khumalo, see Friday's Daily Gazette.