John McGreal is meticulous when it comes to preparing his side for games and researching the opposition.

But the Colchester United head coach will have a clear head start with his research on one particular opponent the U’s are likely to face tomorrow.

McGreal was a mainstay in the Tranmere Rovers defence when Clint Hill broke into the starting line-up as a young professional at Prenton Park, back in 1997.

The pair played in the same Rovers side under John Aldridge for two seasons, prior to McGreal leaving for Ipswich Town in 1999.

Like McGreal, defender Hill went on to have an impressive career, reaching the heady heights of the Premier League.

Now the evergreen Hill, who celebrates his 39th birthday next week, is preparing to face his old Tranmere team-mate McGreal for Carlisle United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tomorrow.

McGreal said: “Clint’s done terrifically well and you know what you’re going to get with him.

“Even as a young lad at Tranmere, he was a tough lad growing up and a good player as well.

“He’s got a wand of a left foot, he’s really aggressive and he’s a character in the dressing room as well.

“You can understand why Keith (Curle) brought him in because he had a terrific season at Rangers last year, as well.

“He’s going to be tough to mark at set pieces but he’s also going to be in and around it, pushing his team to try and get three points because he’s a true professional.

“I could sense that he would go on and have the career that he’s had when he came into that Tranmere team, because he was such a focused boy.

“He was a determined young man – I wasn’t with him there for that long but he was in and around it and then I moved on.

“He got a couple of great moves after that and played in the Premier League – he’s had a terrific career and he doesn’t look finished yet!

“He’s still playing at the age of nearly 39, so great credit to him.”

Colchester sit a point above tomorrow’s opponents Carlisle in the League Two table, after taking seven points from a possible nine in their last three games.

The Cumbrians’ success has mostly come on the road this season so far and boss McGreal is wary of their threat.

He said: “Carlisle do mix it up to be fair and they look to find different ways to try and win games.

“They’re in a similar position to us in that respect and I think they’ve had a couple of suspensions of late so they’ve had to adapt and change personnel.

“Whoever Keith (Curle) puts out they’ll be seasoned and experienced and we know it’s going to be a tough game.”