SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is keen to extend Jamar Loza’s loan spell until the end of the season.

Loza produced a magnificent man of the match display in Monday night’s 3-0 win against Oxford United at Roots Hall.

And Brown now wants the young striker to stay for longer than just a month.

“Jamar has that quality and speed we’ve been lacking and we’ll certainly be trying to keep him here until the end of the season,” said the Blues boss.

“He’s bright, lively and has his eyes wide open because he wants to learn.

“He just wants that platform to be able to perform and show what he can do and we can give him that here.

“I think having him up there also helps Lee Barnard and the shackles have come off him now after he scored a penalty which I was delighted about.”

At the other end of the field, centre-backs John Egan and Jakub Sokolik secured a third successive clean sheet.

And Brown feels their form, along with the impact made by Loza, is further evidence of the good work being done by chief scout Bob Shaw.

“We’ve got one defender from Ireland and one from the Czech Republic but Bob has seen something in them and they’ve got a great partnership going now,” said Brown.

“They’re keeping Luke Prosser out of the side and only a few weeks ago that would’ve seemed unthinkable.

“We’ve got Jamar at the other end now and it’s all down to the scouting network we have at the football club now.

“Bob isn’t here that much because he’s always out looking at players for us and he’s certainly finding some good ones.”

Will Atkinson also impressed against Oxford, opening the scoring with a close range volley.

And the midfielder was also full of praise for Loza’s display against the U’s.

“I would say it’s one of the best home debuts I’ve ever seen,” said Atkinson.

“Jamar gives us an option I don’t think we’ve really had since Cauley Woodrow went back to Fulham and it’s great to see because he’s a lovely lad who wants to do well.”