COLCHESTER United are getting ready to face Spurs in the Carabao Cup tonight.

There are plenty of links between the two clubs, with a number of players having represented both teams over the years.

Ahead of the third-round tie at the JobServe Community Stadium, the Gazette highlights five players who have represented both the U's and Tottenham Hotspur in recent times.

TEDDY SHERINGHAM

When the former England striker arrived at Layer Road in the twilight of his illustrious career which included two productive spells at Spurs, his aim was to try and help Colchester United stay in the Championship for a third successive season.

Sadly for Sheringham, he was unable to help preserve their second-tier status in the 2007-08 season, in what was his final-ever campaign as a professional.

Colchester's 1-0 home defeat against Stoke City in April 2008, the final game to ever be played at Layer Road, proved to be Sheringham's last competitive match as he hung up his boots at the age of 42.

He made more than 900 league and cup appearances during his glittering career, scoring 350 goals at domestic level.

Sheringham has gone on to manage Stevenage and Indian Super League club ATK.

JOHNNIE JACKSON

Having started his career at Spurs, the versatile Jackson first joined Colchester on loan for the final two months of the 2002-03 season.

He returned to the U's on a permanent basis in the summer of 2006, helping them record their highest-ever finish after they ended up tenth in their first-ever season in the Championship.

Jackson, who made 24 first-team appearances for Spurs, was Colchester's Player of the Year the following season but could not prevent them from being relegated to League One.

He went on to play for Notts County and Charlton Athletic, where he is currently assistant manager to Lee Bowyer.

BONGANI KHUMALO

SOUTH Africa international Khumalo arrived at Spurs in 2011, after joining them from SuperSport United.

He had loan spells at the likes of Preston North End and Reading before joining the U's on a temporary basis in March, 2015.

The central defender played a big part in helping Colchester preserve their League One status on the final day of the 2014-15 season, playing ten games for Tony Humes' side in that campaign.

He spent four years at Spurs without making a competitive appearance for the North London club and returned to South Africa in 2015, where he is still playing.

MARK YEATES

The winger became a big favourite at Colchester United, having started his professional career at Spurs.

Yeates initially joined the U's on loan from Tottenham at the start of their memorable 2005-06 season, playing a huge part in helping Phil Parkinson's side win promotion to the Championship.

The winger, who made four competitive appearances for Spurs, had loan spells at Leicester City and Hull City before joining Colchester on a permanent basis from Spurs in 2007.

He spent two years at the U's, making 81 appearances before leaving to join Middlesbrough in July, 2009.

Now 34 years old, Yeates is currently plying his trade at National League club AFC Fylde.

PHIL IFIL

The full-back burst onto the scene for Spurs at the start of the 2004-05 season, playing in their opening-day game against Liverpool.

Ifil went onto make a further two Premier League starts for Tottenham Hotspur but left the North London club in January 2008 to join Colchester.

He went onto make 60 league and cup appearances for the U's, scoring twice, before leaving to join Dagenham and Redbridge in August, 2010.