COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal admits a positive result at Scunthorpe United today would give them a big lift heading into their mouth-watering trip to Old Trafford.

The U’s are edging closer to their much-anticipated Carabao Cup quarter-final at Manchester United but first they take on fellow in-form side Scunthorpe United, in an important League Two clash.

McGreal said: “Of course, it would be great to take a good result into it (Manchester United).

“It’s going to be tough but Saturday comes first.

“No-one is going to put out a stronger team than Paul (Hurst) and his Scunthorpe on Saturday – they’re flying at the minute and we can’t take our eye off the ball, because if you do, you get your pockets felt.

“We don’t want that because we’ve worked ever so hard to get into this little run of ours and we want to continue it.

“Scunthorpe are on a very good run – I think they’ve won their last five games including the cup competitions.

“We know it’s going to be a really tough game and Paul at the minute has got them playing some really good stuff.

“He’s found his system and his team at the minute.

“I know he’s got one or two decisions to make with suspensions but he’s got a really good squad there and you can see that from the results they’ve had of late.”

Colchester head into the match at Glanford Park looking to extend their unbeaten league run to six matches.

But Scunthorpe are also in good form, having won their last five matches in all competitions.

The Iron initially took time to adjust following their relegation from League One last season but are now performing well and boss McGreal is expecting a difficult game.

He added: “We were the same if you remember, after we came down.

“We started well, then we had a bit of a blip and then we kicked on towards the end of the season and just missed out.

“It’s going to be a different test.

“It’s a smallish ground and it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“We’re in a bit of form ourselves and it’s two teams who are on top of their form – hopefully we’ll come out of it with the three points.”

Paris Cowan-Hall is Colchester’s only absentee for the game at Scunthorpe.

The former Portsmouth attacker is still sidelined with an Achilles injury but other than that, the U’s have a full squad to choose from.