Colchester United supporters will get a glimpse of the future at the Youth Alliance Cup Area Final tonight.

That’s the view of U’s head of youth Tony Humes, who believes many of their under-18 players who face Portsmouth have the potential to represent the first team, in years to come.

The likes of Macauley Bonne and Sammie Szmodics, who are both in the squad tonight, have impressed for Joe Dunne’s side this season having progressed through the club’s academy.

And with a clear pathway in place for more youngsters to follow in their footsteps, Humes says there is plenty of incentive for the U’s fledgling stars to do well.

Humes said: “The chairman and the manager have both spoken at length about how they want things to progress in the coming years.

“These boys have got every opportunity to get through our youth system and into the first-team squad in years to come.

“They’ve done really well to get to the final and the experience they’ll get from playing an area final at the Community Stadium is fantastic.

“Let’s hope that we’re successful and we make it through to the national final.”