CHRISTIAN Walton insists he is heading back to Brighton & Hove Albion with only good things to say about Southend United.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper joined Blues on an emergency loan following injuries to Mark Oxley and Ted Smith.

And Walton - who played the final seven games of the season - relished his short spell at Southend.

“It was really good being at Southend and I will only ever have good things to say about being there,” said the shot-stopper.

“It’s a great club with a fantastic manager who is doing a tremendous job there and it’s a really good group of players there too.

“They made me feel welcome straight away, especially for my first game against Oldham when I had only met everyone on the morning of the match.

“It was good for me to get some games and it was nice to end by being voted player of the month for April.

“I just wish we could have made the play-offs.”

Walton kept three clean sheets while with the Shrimpers.

But he remains disappointed not to have helped them secure a top six finish as Phil Brown’s side ended the campaign just one place and one point below sixth placed Millwall.

“We did all we could by beating Bury on Sunday but unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said Walton.

“It was a weird day with the fans suddenly all cheering and us not really knowing what was happening but it was disappointing to just miss out.

“From talking to the lads though, I understand it’s mixed emotions because I was told it was a struggle at the start of the season and that there had been quite some turnaround in the season.”

However, Walton is now back with Brighton, a club on a real high after securing promotion to the Premier League.

But the England under 21 goalkeeper is unsure if he will sample first team football with the Seagulls.

“With Brighton getting promotion it’s going to be tough to get in the team,” said Walton.

“But I’ll have a good off-season and come back raring to go.

“If I don’t get a look in then I think another loan spell would do me good because I want to be getting more first team matches under my belt.

“That’s definitely what I need and I think that would do me good before going back to Brighton and trying to get in there again.”

Walton’s loan spell with Blues was the fourth of his career.