MICHAEL Spillane wants to breathe life back into Southend United’s stuttering push for promotion.

The 23-year-old midfielder has now completed a switch from Dagenham & Redbridge.

And he is keen to help the club clinch promotion back into League One.

“I’m very excited to join Southend because it’s a good club and I want to help them go up this season,” said Spillane, who has signed a deal until the end of the season with the option of a further year on top of that.

“For myself, personally, I want to be playing regularly to try and help make that happen.

“But I’ve played against Southend three times for Dagenham already this season, so I now how strong they are and it will be nice to link up with the players in the team rather than having to try and stop them.”

Spillane had been expected to go straight into Blues’ starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash with Plymouth Argyle before it was called off.

And he cannot wait to start working for his new manager Paul Sturrock.

“I did have another option but it was the manager here that made me want to join Southend,” said Spillane.

“He really wanted me to come in and be part of his team and I’m looking forward to playing for him because he’s an experienced manager.”

Spillane, who is believed to have turned down an offer from Chesterfield to come to Roots Hall, also took words of advice from former Southend skipper Kevin Maher before deciding to join Blues.

Maher is now part of the Dagenham squad and told Spillane Southend was an ideal opportunity for him to further his career.

“Kev had only good things to say about Southend and that I should go there if I had the chance,” said Spillane.

“But he also kept joking around saying he was a hero here and that I’d never be as successful as he was!”

Spillane is expected to line up in a defensive midfield position for Blues and fill the void vacated by Tamika Mkandawire, whose loan spell from Millwall has now expired.

And boss Sturrock is delighted to brought in the former Norwich City man.

“Michael’s a good age and I’m very hopeful I can mould him into where I want him to play,” said Sturrock.

“I’ve very pleased we’ve been able to sign him and I think I can make him a better player during his time here.

“John Still did a good job with him when he was at Dagenham, but now I think can add the icing on top of that cake."