SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown heaped praise on new boy Josh Wright after the midfielder impressed on his debut at Fleetwood Town.

Wright featured on the right hand side of the Shrimpers’ midfield in their 4-2 win at the Highbury Stadium.

And Brown was delighted with how Wright fitted into Blues’ system on his first start.

“I thought Josh was excellent,” said Brown.

“He looked like he had been out there with those players since the first day of the season.

“He knows what we’re about and he likes the professionalism here. He likes the way we train, our shape and the way we play. He got on the ball, he’s pressed the ball well and he’s dropped back when Jason Demetriou has got forward so I thought he was really good.”

Wright - who left Gillingham at the end of August - completed his switch to Southend last weekend.

The 27-year-old impressed playing for the under 23s at Barnet before going straight into the starting line-up against Fleetwood.

The midfielder - who is the brother of TV celebrity Mark - replaced Dru Yearwood in the Shrimpers side. But Brown joked Wright would not be able to follow his family members into reality television after suffering a bloody nose against Fleetwood.

“Josh has put his head in and he was sitting in there after the game with a bloodied nose so he can forget going on the Only Way is Essex and having a career on that after football now,” said Brown.

“But he’s gone in where it hurts and I’ll take that all day. He’s had a good debut and he’ll be delighted we’ve won it away from home but now we need to be able to build on it.”

Wright’s display was also praised by Blues’ travelling fans who voted him man of the match on the Echo’s online poll.

And he tweeted his joy at having triumphed on his first Shrimpers appearance.

“How I have missed those two feelings, playing a match and of course winning,” said Wright.

“Absolutely buzzing and everyone was fantastic, I loved being back out there and making my debut for Southend. Big thank you to the players, staff and fans. Now it’s time to kick on.”