Central defender Leo Roget is relishing the chance of relaunching his Southend United career at Darlington on Saturday.

Loan star Barry Hunter has returned to Second Division promotion chasers Reading and Roget is set to fill the gap in the Shrimpers' rearguard.

"All I want to do is play and I can't wait to get onto the pitch against Darlington," said the 21-year-old, who has not tasted Third Division action for nearly three months.

"Problems with my back and hamstring muscles have kept me out of the side recently, but I want to put all that behind me by playing in every game between now and the end of the season."

Roget last started a Southend match in January when the Seasiders beat Scarborough 1-0 at Roots Hall, but he broke down and limped out of the game after only 10 minutes.

However, the young stopper believes a series of special muscle exercises have cured his problems and he cannot wait to tackle Quakers hotshot Marco Gabbiadini at Feethams.

"I'm looking forward to marking Gabbiadini because he is a striker with a proven pedigree at the highest level," admitted Roget, who was attracting the interest of Dutch giants Feyenoord two seasons ago.

"It's always enjoyable playing against a well-known forward because it makes you raise your game.

"As a defender you want to prove you can live with the best and meet the challenge of snuffing such a dangerous player out of the match.

"Gabbiadini is a very strong and physical player, but I'm sure I can keep him quiet."

Southend have failed to record a league win on opposition soil in their last six attempts - a miserable statistic which Blues boss Alvin Martin is desperate to erase.

The Shrimpers chief has ordered his men to put on the same type of performance which helped them pick up their last away victory - a 4-2 triumph at Hartlepool on December 19, last year.

"We know we are capable of achieving results away from Roots Hall and we need to start proving it at Darlington," Martin said.

"If we show the same qualities which helped us pick up three points at Hartlepool we should have no problems."

Mel Capleton is expected to continue in goal for Southend at Martyn Margetson's expense and attacking midfielder Steve McGavin should also feature after shaking off a thigh strain.

However, left-winger Scott Houghton is struggling with a groin injury and faces a late fitness test before the match.

Southend (from): Capleton, Beard, Booty, Roget, Coleman, Newman, Unger, Maher, Roach, Conlon, Houghton, Campbell, Livett, Burns, Fitzpatrick, McGavin, Morley, Margetson.

Darlington (from): Preece, Liddle, Barnard, Bennett, Tutill, Naylor, Himsworth, Oliver, Duffield, Gabbiadini, Atkinson, Reed, Gaughan, Dormer, Brumwell.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.