DAVID Worrall insists he has been surprised by Southend United’s stuttering start to the season.

The winger will be back at Roots Hall with Millwall this weekend.

And the 26-year-old heads back shocked to see Blues sitting 22nd in the League One standings.

“Southend is a good club with some very good players so they shouldn’t really be where they are in the table at the moment,” said Worrall.

“I know they lost good players like Daniel Bentley, Jack Payne and Kevan Hurst at the end of last season but there is still a lot of talent there.

“When I was there the changing room was massive in the success we had and the promotion we got but I’m not there anymore so I don’t know what it’s like now.

“The injuries they’ve got certainly haven’t helped but there are enough good players there for them to be able to turn things around.”

Worrall left Blues at the end of last season after an impressive two-year spell with the club.

The winger, who made 84 appearances while with Southend, was disappointed not to be offered a contract to remain at Roots Hall sooner than he was last summer.

But he holds no hard feelings towards the Shrimpers.

“Football is a ruthless industry and these things happen,” said Worrall.

“One minute you’re the next best thing at your club, then the next you’re not playing.

“It’s the same all the way up in football no matter what you do and you just have to get on with it.

“Despite whatever has gone on with me and the manager, he’s a winner and he will be hurting at the moment.

“He will want to turn things around and I really hope they do, just after Saturday of course.”

Worrall has made an impressive start to the season with his new club.

And he now hopes to keep that going against the Shrimpers in a game which could well see him directly up against his former flat-mate Ben Coker.

“I know Cokes has had a bit of an injury but we’ve both been texting each other already about how we’re going to be kicking each other the whole game,” laughed Worrall.

“I lived with Cokes and was always with Ryan Leonard and Will Atkinson, so it will be great to see them and their families again.

“They’re some of my closest friends but they won’t be for 90 minutes on Saturday and that’s the way it should be.”

In contrast to Southend, Millwall have started the season well.

The Lions sit fifth in the League One table and Worrall already feels settled in his new surroundings.

“I wanted to make a good start to get the fans on side and I’ve done that,” said the winger.

“I’ve been told Millwall are normally slow starters so it’s been a good start, especially as we haven’t really hit top form just yet.

“We’ll be looking to do that Southend and I can’t wait because this game and the one at Bury were the first ones I looked for.”