MICHAEL Kightly is keen to build on his successful return to Southend United’s starting line-up - beginning with Saturday’s clash at Blackburn Rovers.

Kightly had been on the Blues bench for three successive matches before scoring in Monday’s 4-0 win against Gillingham.

But the winger has now set his sights on the Shrimpers’ trip to Ewood Park and overcoming the hostile reception he may receive.

“We’re all looking forward to Saturday and it’s going to be a great game to play in, said Kightly.

“As a former Burnley player I’ll probably be getting stick as they are massive rivals with Blackburn but it’s going to be good.

“Blackburn are a very good side and I think they probably have the best squad in the division but on our day we’ve shown we can beat anyone.

“Consistency has been our biggest problem this season but that’s improved massively since the new manager has come in.

“I think we’ve only been beaten twice in 12 games so we’ve been doing well and from a personal point of view of course I want to build on Monday.”

Kightly impressed when Chris Powell was first appointed as Blues boss at the end of January, scoring twice in his first three games.

But, after recovering from a hamstring problem, the 32-year-old found it tough to stay in the side and dropped down onto the bench with Anthony Wordsworth being selected out wide.

“It was very frustrating and difficult not being in the team but it happens in football,” said Kightly.

“We have a lot of players fit now and maybe the manager wanted to have a look at somebody else.

“But I got back in the team on Monday and was really happy with how it went.”

Kightly was among the goalscorers in the Shrimpers’ emphatic victory and now boasts the best goal to game ratio in the squad.

On average, Kightly has netted every 3.6 games for Blues this season and is determined to add to his tally before the end of the season.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get an easier goal than the one on Monday but hopefully I’ll get a few more now,” said Kightly.

“Hamstring injuries have stopped me getting the number of goals I wanted but I’ve got six in 22 games which isn’t too bad.

“But we still have six games to go this season and we want to make sure we finish as high up the table as we can.”