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Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu says chasing the League Two title is not the major priority for Cambridge United at this stage of the season with 12 games left to play.
Midfielder Mpanzu won four promotions with Luton Town, including to the Premier League in 2023, and is looking for another with the U's.
Cambridge are second in the table, four points behind Bromley, having lost only once in their last 20 matches.
"It's in our mindset but I wouldn't say it's a must to win the league," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
"If you win the league you've got something to brag about but, right now, we're looking to keep in the top three.
"The minimum is to get in the play-offs but now we're in an alright position and we need to keep our heads down, keep working, and hopefully at the end of the season we'll be in the top three."
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Cambridge have been held to 1-1 draws in their last two home games, against Colchester United and MK Dons.
The latter was a hard one to stomach as they were denied three points by a penalty for MK Dons in the sixth minute of added time, but Mpanzu is taking a positive view of the result.
"We're disappointed to concede a last-minute goal but it's another point on the board. If they'd scored in something like the 70th minute, it would be a good point but because it was so late it feels like two dropped," he said.
Mpanzu believes the strength of Cambridge's squad is one of the main reasons for their surge up the table, with 12 goals scored this season from players coming off the substitutes' bench - including by Shayne Lavery last Saturday.
"Everyone is willing to contribute - having 12 goals off the bench is huge for the team - and hopefully that can continue to the end of the season."
Cambridge are away to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, a team they beat 2-0 at the Cledara Abbey Stadium in December.
"It may be an ugly game. Accy's not a place where you can go, they will roll over and you get three points," Mpanzu added.