DANNY Cowley knows what it feels like to lift the Bristol Street Motors Trophy at Wembley Stadium.

So it’s no surprise that the Colchester United head coach will be doing all he can to help his side get the win they need to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

The U’s host Arsenal under-21s in their final Southern Group E fixture at the JobServe Community Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.45pm), knowing a win will guarantee their progress in this season’s tournament.

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A victory or a draw with a bonus point on penalties will see the U’s ensure their advancement into the knockout stages, with MK Dons and Leyton Orient also in action against each other tonight as the group is completed.

U’s boss Cowley, who won the EFL Trophy as manager of Lincoln City in 2018, said: “Like always, we’ll attack the game and try to find a way of winning.

“I call this cup the enthusiasm cup.

“If you’ve got a group that love football, you tend to do well in it.

“It’s not always played in front of the biggest support and it’s not always as glamorous as some of our other fixtures but always the boys that have a real love and enthusiasm for the game always play well in it.”

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

Colchester have recorded a win and a draw so far in this season’s competition.

They beat MK Dons 2-1, before drawing 1-1 at League One side Leyton Orient and missing out on a bonus point on penalties, last month.

“It isn’t an easy group,” added Cowley.

“We play Arsenal, who are one of the best young under-21 teams in the country and with some of the best young players in the world.

“You also have MK Dons who are a very, very strong League Two team and a very good League One team in Leyton Orient, away from home.

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“It wasn’t an easy draw, so for us to be able to take it to the final game is something we’re really pleased with.”

Colchester will check on the fitness of defender Rob Hunt, ahead of tonight’s game.

The right-sided defender was forced off in the first half of the U’s 1-1 draw at Barrow at the weekend with a calf problem and will be assessed.