Tony Humes is sure Colchester United’s players will be better for their experiences this season - whatever happens this weekend.

The U’s have occupied a position in the bottom four for much of the season and need to win their final game of the season against Preston North End to stand any chance of staying up.

Academy products such as Alex Gilbey, Sammie Szmodics and Tom Lapslie have all played their part in Colchester’s battle to beat the drop.

And Humes that their trials and tribulations over recent months will make them stronger - both on and off the field.

He said: “The experiences they’re going through will stand them in good stead in the long run and hopefully too, in the short term.

“They’ll have learnt a lot from the last few weeks where it’s been tough and difficult and everybody has stuck together.

“These are really pressurised situations and if you haven’t been through it before, how do you deal with it?

“You haven’t got anything to fall back on to cope with it but our players have been through it and they’ll be better off for it, in the long run.

“I’ve never been through anything like this before, even as a player.

“It’s difficult and it’s tough but we have to keep going.

“If you look at the experiences that a young player like Alex Gilbey has been through over the last three years, you’d expect him to be stronger as a player and a person.

“It’s the same for the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Tom Lapslie, who have come through this year.

“It’s been very difficult for them so you’d like to think that next season, they’ll be a lot better off for it.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.