SOUTHEND United centre-back Luke Prosser fears he could struggle to get back in to the starting line-up when the Shrimpers travel to Oxford United on Saturday.

Prosser missed last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Plymouth Argyle with a one match suspension after being sent off at Northampton Town.

And the 26-year-old is therefore expecting a fight to force his way in to the side.

“It’s great to be available for selection again after missing the last game but the boys defended really well to keep a clean sheet,” said Prosser.

“I certainly don’t expect to walk back in to the team after a defensive display like that but, just like everyone else in the squad, I obviously hope to get the nod.”

Prosser, who has started all but two of Blues’ games so far this season, was forced to miss out against the Pilgrims after being sent off for just the second time in his professional career.

The defender was dismissed in the dying seconds of the 1-1 draw at the Sixfields Stadium after being shown two yellow cards.

The second caution came for deliberate handball.

But Prosser still remains aggrieved by the decision.

“It was a blatant foul on me before the handball so it was really frustrating and disappointing, especially as it came so late in the game,” said the defender.

“I’ll make sure I’ll learn from it though and try to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.”

Prosser will be hoping to get the chance to prove that when the Shrimpers visit the Kassam Stadium this weekend.

But he will not be out for revenge, despite having given away a hugely controversial penalty when the two teams met at Roots Hall in September.

Prosser was adjudged to have brought down Danny Hylton in the box, enabling the striker to fire home a spot-kick to secure a 1-1 draw.

However, that will not be on Prosser’s mind on Saturday.

“It’s in the past now and if one of our players had done that to get something out of the game then you would probably pat him on the back,” said the former Port Vale man.

“I’d rather think of the good game we had there last season, when we won 2-0 and hopefully the same can happen again at the weekend.”

Prosser was on target for Blues that afternoon but he has yet to score so far this season and neither have any of the club’s other centre-backs, something they are keen to change.

“We’ve all been speaking this week about how we need to chip in with goals,” said Prosser.

“We’ve been working hard on our set pieces and our attacking play.

“We haven’t had a day off this week either and we’re desperate to get back to winning ways.

“We’re keeping clean sheets so we have a solid foundation and we’re not far off stringing together a run of good results.

“We just need to take our chances and once we do that I’m sure it won’t be long until we win 3-0 or 4-0 in a game.”