SOUTHEND United striker Neil Harris is back in full training after recovering from the knee injury which has kept him sidelined since mid-September.

The 35-year-old forward looks set to line up for Blues when they head to Waltham Abbey in the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup next Wednesday.

And the former Millwall man is now hoping to work his way back into the plans of manager Paul Sturrock.

“I need to get minutes under my belt again and will be wanting to try and impress the manager,” said Harris.

“I am down the pecking order at the moment due to how well the strikers have done while I have been out injured.

“But I’m back fit now and I want to try and put pressure on them and get back onto the pitch to help the team do well.

“Waltham Abbey would be a good game for me to be involved in and I certainly hope to be playing there.”

Harris picked up the injury during training ahead of his side’s trip to Cheltenham Town and was originally expected to be out of action for just a month.

But the injury proved to be worse than first feared and required a number of injections before Harris finally working his way back to full fitness.

“It’s been incredibly frustrating for me because I’m in the twilight of my career and I don’t want to be spending it on the treatment table,” said Harris.

“I want to be playing games and joining in with the rest of the lads trying to get the points we need for promotion."

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY'S ECHO