LUKE Chambers is looking forward to returning to his home town club this weekend.

But the vastly-experienced Colchester United defender wants to leave Sixfields with a precious victory when he faces his former club Northampton Town.

Chambers progressed through the Cobblers academy before making his debut for his local team at 17 and going on to help them secure promotion, in the mid-2000s.

The 36-year-old was born in nearby Kettering and is looking to returning to his former club tomorrow - but is focused on claiming an important victory for the U's.

Chambers told Col U TV: “I started at Northampton as a player from 11 or 12 years old.

“I’ve been back there twice in 16 years and played there once.

“It’s something I’m looked forward to and I always look out for their results.

“It’s my home town and I still know a few people there.

“It’ll be one of those games where I’ll be trying harder than ever to get three points out of."

Gazette:

Colchester and Northampton need the three points for very different reasons tomorrow.

While the U's are aiming to claim a win to move them further clear of the League Two relegation zone, the Cobblers are targeting the automatic promotion places.

“It’s another tough game," said Chambers, who tomorrow will come up against his former Northampton and Nottingham Forest boss Colin Calderwood, who is now assistant manager of the Cobblers.

“We know what they’re all about.

“We played them earlier on in the season.

“They’re quite direct but they’re obviously having a really good season.

“They’ve got some good players but we feel we’re in a bit better form now going into the game and we’re looking forward to it."

Gazette:

Colchester head into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Carlisle United.

The U's have lost only one of their last six games under interim boss Wayne Brown and have claimed two wins out of their three matches, in that time.

“It’s a good place at the minute," said Chambers, who has more than 800 league and cup appearances under his belt.

“We’ve picked up some decent points.

“People are probably writing us off, they’re flying high so it’s another game we’re really looking forward to.

“We feel like we’re going into every game ready to really give ourselves a good chance of taking three points.

“This will be no different – we’re just hoping to start the game well, take our chances when they come and then we’ll see where it takes us."

Colchester have had a free week to prepare for the Northampton game, as they were without a midweek game.

Chambers believes that can help them tomorrow, as they aim to claim a precious win.

Chambers added: “It’s always key to have a full week of training, especially when they’ve got so many new ideas they want to drill into us as quickly as possible.

“We’ve had the week, we’re looking forward to the game and we’re fully prepared as we have been in the first six games that they’ve been in charge for.

“We’re just looking to try and continue that form-wise with one defeat in six and we’re going there looking to get something from the game."