U’S legend Micky Cook believes the club’s new youth policy could help them unearth another Lomana Tresor Lua Lua.

Colchester United boss John Ward has outlined the club’s desire to look to the future, at schoolboy level.

The U’s are keen to see more home-grown players from the area progress to first-team level, in the coming seasons.

As Colchester’s director of youth, Cook helped Lua Lua flourish.

It led to the winger being sold to Newcastle United for £2.25 million, in 2000.

Cook also helped nurture the likes of Greg Halford and Dean Gerken, along with current Colchester first-team players John White and Mark Cousins and a host of other current professionals.

And Colchester’s record-appearance maker is delighted to see his former club give youth a chance to prosper.

Cook said: “It’s fantastic for the kids in the area and those youngsters aspiring to be footballers.

“It’s great that the club have a manager and a chairman who endorse youth development.

“During my time at Colchester I worked with five managers - some were very pro youth and some weren’t.

“I can understand the ones who weren’t but it’s great that John (Ward) is prepared to endorse it - it’s music to my ears."

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