TOM Lapslie recently clocked up a century of league appearances for Colchester United.

So the tough-tackling midfielder is well qualified when talking about the particular merits of the current U’s side which is chasing promotion from League Two.

“It’s probably one of the best squads since I’ve been here,” said Lapslie, who made his senior U’s debut back in 2015 after rising through the club’s academy ranks.

“I think we have more goals this year than we have before.

“We have a bit more of an edge and it does help that the youth-team boys like me, Frank, Szmods and Kane are now all a year older with over 100 appearances under our belts.

“We’ve been questioned about experience before but you can only get it from playing games – it’s not our fault we were young!

“But we’re all 22 or 23 now so it’s looking like one of the best squads we’ve had here.”

Colchester host bottom club Macclesfield Town tomorrow, aiming to maintain their impressive home record this season.

The U’s have won seven of their ten league games at the JobServe Community Stadium this season but Lapslie has warned they may have to be patient in their attempts to claim another victory, this weekend.

“I think our win over Lincoln said to everyone that you’re not going to have an easy game when you come to our place,” said the combative midfielder.

“Some teams will come here and set up to take a point.

“A lot of teams will come with two banks of four and two strikers who sit off and let our defenders have the ball.

“We’re going to have to find ways to beat them and keep going for the whole of 90 minutes.

“Exeter were ecstatic to just take a point and that’s a fellow promotion-chasing team, so that says a lot about us as a team.

“We’re backing that up with a good win at Forest Green so if we can get on a little run with a few wins, we can see where we go.

“We’re fully focused on playing Macclesfield and I think their league position is irrelevant at the moment.

“They have picked up a bit of form and won a couple of games, so we’re all preparing for a very tough game and hoping to win.”

Colchester could come up against a familiar face tomorrow, with Macclesfield boasting former U’s defender Michael Rose among the ranks.

“Rosey was here when I was in the youth team,” added Lapslie.

“He’s a great guy and I’ve played against him a couple of times since.

“I think he scored one of the best goals that I’ve ever seen live when he scored against Portsmouth here (in August, 2012) – it was unbelievable.

“He’s a good player and I’m looking forward to seeing him again but hopefully we keep him quiet and have him chasing the ball around.”