SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley will be looking to outshine a familiar face when the Shrimpers host Coventry City at Roots Hall this weekend.

Bentley trained alongside the Sky Blues shot-stopper Reice Charles-Cook for six years in the youth set-up at Arsenal.

And the Blues goalkeeper hopes it will be him who has the upper hand when they are reunited on Saturday.

“It will be great to play against Reice because we trained together as kids but obviously I hope I enjoy the game more than he does,” said Bentley.

“I was at Arsenal for six years with Reice and I’m really pleased he’s got a chance this year after not getting too many opportunities last year.

“He’s someone who I always got on with and have a lot of time and respect for.

“Our families got on well so it will be interesting to play against him and it’s one I’m looking forward to.”

Bentley, who has now established as one of the best young goalkeepers outside the Premier League, left Arsenal at the age of 15 while Cook stayed on until he was 18.

But both shot-stoppers now find themselves in League One looking to help their teams push for promotion and are still keen to progress.

“Reice was at Arsenal for a lot longer than I was but now we’ve ended up in the same league and we’re both aiming to climb higher,” said Bentley.

“We both want to get to the top, we’re both very driven and our attitudes are similar too.

“It will also be great for our old goalkeeping coach Alex Welsh to see us on the same pitch.”

Blues head into the game sitting ninth in the table, five places and 10 points lower than Coventry.

Bentley will be hoping to help the Shrimpers close that gap with a win this weekend.

But, before then, he will also be swapping messages with his former team-mate.

“I’m sure I’ll be talking to Reice in the build up to the game,” said Bentley.

“It will all be positive of course but it’s going to be a fantastic game to be involved in.”