SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Ted Smith is keen to end a ‘horrible’ few months by securing his first sustained run of games between the sticks.

Smith was selected on the bench for 14 successive league matches before returning to the starting line-up for the 3-0 win against AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day.

And the 20-year-old is now keen to stay in the side and build on the impressive clean sheet.

“It’s been horrible to be out of the team for the past few months, especially as my last league game was at Scunthorpe in September so it was perfect to step in and get a clean sheet,” said Smith, who came through the Shrimpers’ youth system.

“But I need to build on that now and my aim is to get a run of games in the team.

“As a goalkeeper to get some sort of consistency in your performances you need to be playing consecutive games.

“Up until now that’s something I haven’t had so it would be nice if that could finally happen.

“But I know I will need to play well and help the team get more clean sheets and good results if I’m going to stay in.”

Smith - who has represented England at a number of junior levels - started three games in a row earlier in the season and also ended the previous campaign by playing a trio of fixtures.

However, further opportunities had been in short supply for Smith this season, until an elbow injury forced first choice shot-stopper Mark Oxley to the sidelines and led to the former King John School pupil earning a recall.

“I knew Mark had a knock but I wasn’t 100 per cent sure until the day of the game that I was going to be playing,” said Smith.

“I made sure I was ready if needed, like I always do really and also made sure I didn’t eat too much on Christmas Day either!

“In the end, it turned out I was playing and it was a good team to be coming in to after 10 league games without defeat.

“Everyone is really high on confidence right now so it was the best kind of situation to be coming into the team and I really enjoyed it.”

Smith made two fine saves to ensure the Shrimpers secured another three points and moved up to sixth in the League One standings.

And he felt Blues fully deserved their third victory in succession.

“ I thought we were very good and were definitely worthy winners,” said Smith.

“I thought we weathered the storm well when they came out strongly at the start of the second half and we bossed the rest of the game to get the victory.

“We were all really pleased with the clean sheet and we got three well taken goals so it was a pleasing afternoon all round.”

Blues will now be bidding for more of the same at home to Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

But Smith is expecting a tough test against the Addicks.

“Charlton are a very big club with a lot of big players so I’m expecting them to be very clinical in and around the box,” he added.