KEVAN Hurst wants to end an already memorable week in style when Southend United head to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

Hurst became a father for the second time last weekend when his wife Katie gave birth to a baby boy named Finley.

And the 29-year-old winger, who has now forced his way back in to the Shrimpers’ starting line-up, is keen to extend the celebrations with a vital victory at Victoria Road.

“It’s already been a memorable few days for me and it would be great to keep that going with a win in another important game at Dagenham on Saturday,” said Hurst.

“My wife actually went in to labour during our game with Wycombe last weekend but my dad was able to get a message to the kit-man for me to get changed quickly.

“I got stuck in the football traffic on the way out of the ground and was probably driving a bit like Batman on my way to Broomfield Hospital.

“But my wife did really well and I was able to get there in time for the birth which was amazing.

“Everyone is doing well too which is great and I’ll be on a real high heading in to game on Saturday.”

Hurst will also be in a confident frame of mind having scored on his previous two trips to Dagenham.

And he would love to make it three in a row as fourth placed Blues bid to bounce back from last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers.

“I’ve done well in the past at Dagenham so hopefully I can do so again because we need the win,” said Hurst.

“We played really well against Wycombe and it was definitely two points dropped in the end.

“We’re still only five points away from the top three after one or two of the other results went our way.

“But we don’t want to be relying on anyone else, we want to be doing the business ourselves.”

Hurst also wants to help make that happen after ending a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

The winger’s start at Roots Hall on Saturday was his first since the Boxing Day clash at Cambridge United.

And he is now eager to impress during the run in.

“It was a great to start again because it’s obviously been a bit frustrating not playing,” said Hurst.

“I felt as though I was getting my form back just before I injured my hamstring and obviously the other lads have been playing well so it’s been hard to get back in.

“That’s football though and you have to have a strong character.

“You need to work hard and then take the next chance which comes your way, which hopefully I’m doing at the moment.”