JERMAINE McGlashan is out to impress the Southend United supporters with the tenacity which angered them last season.

McGlashan – who has agreed a two-year deal with Shrimpers subject to a medical – was booed off by the home fans when visiting Roots Hall with Gillingham last March.

But the 28-year-old winger is now keen to turn their jeers into cheers.

“The last time I played at Roots Hall I got booed off, so hopefully that won’t be happening now,” laughed McGlashan.

“The game got a little bit nitty gritty and I’m always really hungry to win any game I play, so I was quite involved in it all.

“But hopefully the Southend fans will take to that and I’ll be doing all I can to impress them straight away.”

McGlashan will also be keen to start strongly after the Shrimpers were paired with his former Gillingham side in their opening two fixtures of the forthcoming season.

The speedy wide-man was released by Gills boss Justin Edinburgh at the end of last season.

And he is already looking forward to facing his former side.

“I’m excited about playing Gillingham and there’s certainly no bigger incentive than for me to start the season against my old side,” said McGlashan.

“I actually joked before the fixtures came out that Southend would probably get Gillingham on the opening day but I certainly didn’t expect it to happen in the League Cup as well.”

McGlashan will be eager to take centre stage in both games and he insists he is hungry to impress after being frustrated by his second season with Gillingham.

“In my first season with Gillingham I got seven goals which isn’t bad for a winger but when the new manager came in he played a system which didn’t really suit me,” said McGlashan.

“I wasn’t involved as much as I would have liked but that has made me really hungry to do well and I’ve already said that to Phil Brown.

“I’m really excited to have signed and I know the manager here will play a system that will suit me.”

McGlashan has been joined at Blues by fellow new signing Jason Demetriou.

And he is sure more quality signings will follow as the Shrimpers look to force their way into the race for promotion.

“I’ve played against Jason so I know he’s quality and I’m sure the manager will be looking to bring in a few more,” said McGlashan, who is based in Maidstone.

“I know there are a lot of good players already here as well so I think it’s a really exciting time to be signing for Southend.

“It’s an added bonus I haven’t had to move my family and I think this is the perfect move for me at this stage of my career.”