SEAN Clohessy returns to Roots Hall with Leyton Orient on Sunday backing Southend United to secure more success this season.

The 28-year-old right-back made 166 appearances during three campaigns with the Shrimpers before leaving in 2013.

But Clohessy will be back at Blues for the first time this weekend and is backing his former side to build on the promotion they secured last season.

“I’ve always said Southend have the potential to go far higher and I still believe that,” said the defender.

“It’s a great club and the potential fanbase is huge so I think they can be a force in whatever league they’re in.

“I hope that happens too because I enjoyed it at Southend and there are a lot of good people there.

“Ben Clarkson, Mark Williams and Graham Coughlan all do a fantastic job and there’s still some players there from my time too including Michael Timlin and Luke Prosser who are both top lads so it was great to see Southend go up last season.”

But, while Blues will be bidding to make an impression in League One, Clohessy will be helping Orient rebuild in the basement division.

The right-back joined the O’s at the end of last season after leaving Colchester United.

And he is expecting big things from the East Londoners this term.

“I’m enjoying it here, the manager backs meand we have a good group of players so I think we’ll do well this year,” said Clohessy.

“We have a lot of quality in the group and we have been playing well in pre-season too against good teams which we all think bodes well.

“We’re all really looking forward to the start of the season now.”

Clohessy will also be aiming to impress after a disappointing season with Colchester where he fell out of favour with U’s boss Tony Humes.

And that disappointment came after he spent a year with Kilmarnock who he signed for from Southend.

“It was a tough year in Scotland for my family as my mum passed away and it was a very difficult time,” said Clohessy.

“At Colchester it was frustrating but these things can happen with managers in football and I’m just looking forward to a fresh start now.”

But, having now played for two of Blues’ main local rivals, Clohessy admits to being unsure what kind of reaction he will receive from the Roots Hall faithful.

“Fans have their opinions and that’s fine but people move on in football and you just have to get on with it,” said the defender.

“I remember when I was at Southend though we played Dagenham and they had Kevin Maher in the team.

“He’s an absolute legend at the club and even he was getting stick off some fans near me but whatever happens you just have to deal with it and concentrate on the game.”