COUNTDOWN TO OLD TRAFFORD - FIVE DAYS TO GO

FRANK Nouble insists Colchester United’s players have not really discussed their upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at Manchester United – with this weekend’s trip to Glanford Park firmly in the minds.

U’s fans are counting down to their much-anticipated trip to Old Trafford, one of the biggest games in the club’s history.

But before that, Colchester make the trip to fellow in-form side Scunthorpe United for a vital League Two game.

And although he admits the U’s players are naturally excited about the prospect of taking on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side next week, striker Nouble says their focus is currently on taking on Scunthorpe.

Nouble said: “We’re doing well and we’re in good form overall so hopefully we can carry that on, on Saturday.

“The only time we’ve spoken about it is when we’ve been trying to sort out tickets for our families!

“Other than that, we’ve not really spoken about it.

“We’re obviously excited for it but when the league games come, you tend to forget about everything else and try and win the game on the day.

“Scunthorpe are doing well and they Abs Eisa, who did well for us last year.

“It’ll be good to see him and it’ll be a tough game but we need to be on our mettle and get a result.”

Colchester head into the Scunthorpe game a point off the play-off positions in League Two.

John McGreal’s side are aiming to make it six games unbeaten this weekend and Nouble says he is relishing the challenge of hunting down the teams above them.

“We’ve stayed close enough to it and I don’t think we’re that far away from the top, let alone the top seven,” said the former West Ham United youngster.

“The top ten is quite tight and we want to be in and around it.

“Last year, we were in the top six or top seven quite a lot but this year’s been a bit different.

“We’ve been just outside it and I quite like that position – rather than being chased, we’re the chasers.

“Last year we were comfortable being there, looking back on it.

“We were thinking that we deserved to be there after being there for so long, rather than this year when we feel like we have to fight so much to be in there.

“As long as we keep the momentum, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”