TAYLOR Sinfield is hoping to sew up a move to Southend United.

The Canvey-based defender played as a trialist for the Shrimp-ers’ reserves in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient.

And the 18-year-old would jump at the chance of teaming up with the League One side on a more permanent basis.

“I only live around the corner so I’m really enjoying being at South-end,” said Sinfield, a former King John School pupil who has spent the last seven years with Charlton Athletic.

“I’ve been here for a couple of weeks now and if something could come of the trial then that would be great.”

Sinfield has served a two-year scholarship with the Addicks but has not been offered a professional deal with the Championship club and will leave the Valley at the end of the season.

The youngster played 76 minutes at Brisbane Road, figuring at both centre-back and right-back and was pleased to get a run-out.

“It was my first game since Christmas time so it was good to get out there again,” said Sinfield.

“It was a shame we didn’t get a better result but they had some experienced players in their team and we gave them a good game.”

Sinfield was one of three trialists in the Southend side as Ipswich Town’s Ed Upson and French defender Manuel Kante were also in action.

But the trio were unable to see off the O’s who fielded the fit-again ex Shrimpers striker Wayne Gray in their line-up.

He came close to opening the scoring early on but his close range effort was saved by Ian Joyce.

Blues should have taken the lead in the 59th minute when Rhys Henry, who came on for the injured Francis Laurent, struck the right post when clean through on goal.

The miss proved costly as Orient opened the scoring 10 minutes later as Harry Baker blasted the ball home from 20 yards.

Ryan Jarvis made sure of the win with a neat finish two minutes from time and that made it a losing start for the Shrimpers youth team coach Ricky Duncan who is now also looking after the reserves following the departure of Colin West.

“We did OK and had a great chance to take the lead through Rhys but unfortunately he didn’t take it,” said Duncan. “At times the players needed to be a little bit stronger but they are young and they will learn.

“They certainly have enough games coming up to do that in as well.”

Fit-again forward Lee Barnard played 62 minutes as he strives to improve his match fitness after a recent hamstring injury.