POPULAR former Shrimpers striker Freddy Eastwood is confident of soon hitting top form for Coventry City.

The forward scored 65 goals in 135 games during a successful stint with Southend United.

But, so far this term, the 25-year-old has hit the back of the net just twice.

His last effort came at Blackpool in September but Eastwood is convinced he will soon become a regular name on the scoresheet again.

“I feel I am getting back to form since the manager rested me a few weeks ago,” said the striker, who joined Coventry from Wolves in a £1.2million deal in the summer. “I am just looking for another goal to get me up and running.”

Eastwood has not been helped by ongoing tendinitis in his knee which kept him out of successive Welsh squads.

But that has now improved and he is now close to being back to full fitness. “The injury keeps coming and going and it is going to take a while,” said Eastwood.

“But it has been good for the last few games, so, hopefully, it is improving. The main thing is to play every weekend and score goals and I think the rest from international football has done me a favour in the long term.”

Subsequently, Eastwood’s manager Chris Coleman is now expecting more from the forward, who was raised in Basildon.

“Freddy hasn’t hit the notes he is capable of yet – it is as simple as that,” said Coleman.

“It is hard for him because he is in a team that is not playing at full flow and is low on confidence and he is affected by that.

“The harder you work, the more luck you get, though.

“He has to know that if he is not scoring, if he is working hard and doing the right things, he is going to stay on the pitch.”