SOUTHEND United midfielder Anthony Wordsworth declared himself ready for first team action after making a welcome return from injury at Dagenham & Redbridge yesterday.

The 27-year-old, who had been out of action for almost seven months with a hamstring problem, played an hour in the under-21s’ 1-1 draw at Victoria Road.

And Wordsworth now hopes to be back in Phil Brown’s squad for Saturday’s trip to Northampton Town.

“It’s up to the manager when I come back but if he feels I could make an impact for a period of time on Saturday then that’s fine by me,” said the midfielder.

“I’ll be knocking at his door telling him I’m ready to be involved.

“I certainly feel ready but he might be telling me I’m not after that performance.

“I’ll have to wait and see what he does, but I’m just happy to be back playing to be honest.”

Wordsworth had previously not been on the pitch since lining up at Rochdale back in March.

And he was thrilled to finally return to action against the Daggers.

“It was good to be out there playing again, “said Wordsworth.

“It’s been nearly seven months so the main thing was just getting through the game.

“We spoke before kick-off about me playing 45 minutes and I managed to play 60 so it’s really positive.

“My lungs were struggling and it probably wasn’t the best of performances if I’m honest but, touch wood, everything is feeling OK and that’s the main thing.”

Wordsworth’s injury took longer than expected to heal and did not settle down until it was eventually sorted by having an operation.

“I knew I had a hamstring injury because I could feel it but I was having scans and not much was showing up apart from tendinitis,” recalled Wordsworth.

“I knew it was something more serious and that was the most difficult thing and it’s been quite a slow process.

“I had an operation in the end and it turned out the nerves and the tendons were tangled together.

“They separated them and stitched them back to where they should be and now I just need to make sure I keep on strengthening the muscles because they need to be built back up now.

“I’m doing that in the gym every day but I need to keep on top of it,” the midfielder added.

However, Wordsworth has also been buoyed by not missing too many matches.

“Because of when I got the injury I didn’t miss as many games as I could have done before we had a three-month break when the season ended,” said the former Ipswich Town man.

“That was one slight positive and it’s also good to be pain-free again because even when I was playing last year it felt as though I had lost quite a bit of power whenever I had a shot.

“Everything feels OK again now though and I just want to keep on working hard so that I can push on.”