SUPERSTAR athlete Mo Farah could be heading to Southend United in the new year.

Farah’s cousin, Yonis, has now signed a two year scholarship to remain in the Shrimpers’ youth set up.

And the 16-year-old left-back revealed the double Olympic champion had revealed he was keen to come and watch him play at the earliest possible opportunity.

“When I was last in the Echo about playing for Southend my dad sent the link to Mo and he said he would come down to a game whenever he could, maybe even in January,” said Farah.

“Mo trains away a lot in Kenya and America so we don’t see him much but he still gets to a few of the family get-togethers so he knows what I’m doing and that I’m at Southend now.”

Farah has been with Blues for the past five months after impressing at an open trial at the club’s Boots & Laces training ground.

Echo:

Yonis Farah impressed for Blues' under 18s at Gillingham

Since then the youngster has continue to impress and, after helping Blues beat Gillingham 1-0 on his under 18 debut a fortnight ago, he was one of just three players to have already been offered a scholarship by the Shrimpers.

However, Farah could have followed his cousin into athletics after also impressing on the track in his youth.

“When I was under 13 I was number three in the country for 800 metres and used to do well in cross-country as well,” said Farah, who lives in Ilford.

“It was always football that excited more though.

“I’ve always watched it on the television and now I’m really happy to be with my first professional club.”

Farah will now be looking to work his way through the ranks at Roots Hall.

But he is first keen to make the most of any further opportunities coming his way in the under 18s.

“I enjoyed making the step up and it was much quicker and more physical than I had been used to before,” said Farah.

“You don’t get as much time on the ball but I enjoyed the experience and hope to get some more games at that level.”

Farah certainly did his chances of that happening with his display against the Gills.

And it was his impressive energy levels which continue to impress Blues’ youth team chief Ricky Duncan.

“It’s clear that Yonis is an athlete and comes from a running background because he doesn’t stop running when he plays,” said Duncan.

“He’s up and down the whole game and we’ve actually had to try and stop him doing it so much because he wants to get forward all the time.

“He’s a great kid though and he’s another one we’ve picked up from an open trial just like we did with Franck Moussa and Stuart O’Keefe who have gone on to have good careers at a higher level.”

Farah will now be bidding to follow in their foot-steps and Duncan would be only too pleased to see his cousin in attendance at Boots & Laces.

“If Mo could come down to a game then that would be absolutely brilliant,” said Duncan.

“We would love to have him here and if he could chat to our young lads then it would be perfect because I can’t think of anyone better to speak about dedication to sport and how best to prepare.”