Young Southend United defender Chris Perkins has admitted that he faces a race against time to prove himself to Shrimpers boss Alan Little.

The 19-year-old stopper, who has made five league appearances for the Seasiders, is desperate for another crack at first-team football before his current contract expires in June.

Perkins, who has failed to make the senior line-up this term, said on Wednesday: "I'm confident in my ability and I know I could do a good solid job for Southend - I just hope I get the opportunity. "My contract runs out this summer and I don't know whether I'm going to get a new one, which I need to see the manager about soon.

"But whatever happens, I'd be gutted if I didn't get another chance in Blues' first team, because I've been at Roots Hall since I was 13-years-old and this club means a lot to me."

Perkins, who has shown a steady head as a footballing centre-half in the Shrimpers' reserve side, has just returned to the Essex coast, following a two-month loan period with Conference side Kettering Town.

"I enjoyed myself at Kettering and feel much stronger for my spell there" added Perkins, who made eight league appearances and scored one goal for the Poppies.

"Playing for Kettering has shown me there isn't that big a gap between the Conference and Third Division, which makes me confident I can win a place in Southend's team."

Perkins played most of his games for the Rockingham Road outfit as a central defender, but was also employed as an emergency striker and midfielder by Kettering's boss, former Blues manager, Peter Morris.

In his first game at Welling United, Perkins came off the substitutes bench with Kettering 1-0 down, but turned the match around and set up both goals in a 2-1 victory for his adopted team.

But he grabbed even more glory during his second match against Southport, netting the only goal in a 1-0 success for the Poppies.

"It was a great feeling both scoring and making goals and I felt I did well in all my games at Kettering," explained Perkins

"Dropping a level for a few months has given me added experience, because first-team football is better than playing in the reserves.

"But one of the things I enjoyed most at Rockingham Road was the atmosphere of playing in front of 1,700-odd fans, which is far more than Southend attract for a second-string game."

However, Perkins is more concerned with concentrating on his defending, the mainstay of his game, which helped Kettering achieve a new Conference rearguard record.

"We never conceded a goal for 473 minutes - which was a new record - and I'd like to think that I could bring a bit of that form to Southend's defence," Perkins said.

"All I want is a chance to prove myself, but even a place on the bench would be nice for starters."

Seasiders supporters can currently take advantage of an extended discount offer in the club shops, with 30 per cent slashed off of all goods.

The offer applies at the Blues Superstore by the main entrance in Victoria Avenue and in the shop in the West Stand.

Fresh chance - Chris Perkins, seen in action here against Norwich City reserves, is keen to get into Blues' first team before his contract expires

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