Dean Brill insists there will be no chance of him having divided loyalties when Colchester United host his home town club Luton Town this weekend.

But the U’s goalkeeper admits he would love to see both sides win promotion from League Two this season, ahead of the vital clash at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Brill was born in Luton and made more than 100 appearances for them during two spells at Kenilworth Road, having initially joined their academy as a nine-year-old.

The 31-year-old, who has returned to fitness after a minor quad injury, lives in the Luton area and admits he is still a Hatters fan.

But Brill has stressed his target this weekend is to help his current club Colchester secure three vital points and boost their bid to reach the play-offs.

Brill told the Daily Gazette: “It’s a big game for us against Luton on Saturday but they’re all big games at this stage of the season.

“I’ve never come up against Luton before and so far, I’ve never played against any of my former clubs, during my career.

“I was at Luton between the ages of nine to 23.

“It’s changed a bit but I’m still a Luton fan and always will be.

“From a professional point of view, I want to help Colchester win this weekend and help us try and get into the play-offs.

“But in an ideal world, it will be great if both Colchester and Luton won promotion at the end of the season!

“I remember playing for Luton at Colchester in the Championship and it would be great for both teams to go up, this season.

“It’s about getting wins – it’s more important than ever and that’s what you’re after at this stage of the season.

“A point will not necessarily help you to leapfrog the sides above you in the table but getting three points certainly gives you a better chance of doing that.”

Brill played in all three Football League divisions with Luton and helped them win the Football League Trophy with a win over Scunthorpe United at Wembley, in 2009.

“My memories at Luton are all happy ones,” said Brill, who is still waiting to make his first appearance for Colchester after joining them from Motherwell, last January.

“The club went through some tough times but when things like that happen, it pulls everyone together.

“We got relegated to the Conference but we took 46,000 people to Wembley for the JPT Final in 2009 and that fan base will always be there and they are fond memories.”

Brill is hoping to be named in the Colchester squad for the first time in ten matches this weekend, after recovering from injury.

The former Motherwell keeper returned to action in the U’s under-23s’ Premier League Cup victory over Sunderland last Friday, where he capped a successful night by saving a last-gasp penalty.

Brill said: “I’d been back in training for two weeks and the gaffer wanted me to play at Sunderland to finalise my return.

“It was a good game for me to play in and the penalty save came as a bonus.

“It was nice to be back out there and to keep a clean sheet was great.

“I’ve seen the under-23 team here a couple of times of late and they’ve always been really competitive.

“I’ve trained with them a couple of times and they’re a great bunch of lads.

“There’s some really good quality in there and they’re a very determined group.

“It was very frustrating to be out but sometimes, you have to look at the bigger picture.

“It was just a bit of a niggle – it was to do with the quad that goes into the knee that was a little bit tight.

“It wasn’t anything major and it was nothing like any injuries I’d had in the past.

“But it didn’t feel right and I didn’t want to do either myself or the team an injustice by playing on with it, if I was called upon.

“I had to make the decision to step off it for a couple of weeks like I have done.

“But I’ve been training for three weeks now and had some good days on the training ground, so I’m raring to go.”

Brill has been part of an unprecedented injury list for Colchester, which has seen around a dozen of their players sidelined over recent weeks.

He added: “When I first signed for Colchester, the squad was really looking strong and the blend between youth and experience was perfect.

“But it seems like it’s been one thing after another and the injuries we’ve had have been crazy.

“But it’s testament to the boys and the manager that we’re only four points off the play-off positions with eight games to go.

“The boys have really dug in and whenever someone has been asked to step in, they have done well.

“I think one of the best examples of that has been Cameron James – he only made his first senior start last month but he’s looked like he’s been playing there for years.

“Everyone’s pulling together to try and get three points at this stage of the season.”