Britt Assombalonga keen to extend loan at Southend United from Watford (From Echo)

Britt Assombalonga keen to extend loan at Southend United from Watford

12:21pm Monday 10th September 2012 in Blues By Chris Phillips

BRITT Assombalonga fired Southend United to a 3-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday – and then revealed he was keen to extend his loan spell at the club.

The 19-year-old, who is with Blues from Watford, scored twice in the first half at Roots Hall to secure Paul Sturrock's side a third successive win.

And he now hopes to remain with Southend after his initial month long deal expires this weekend.

“I don’t mind staying here at all,” said Assombalonga who has scored four goals in his last four games for Blues.

“I am a Southend player at the moment and I’ll speak to the gaffer about what happens next.

“I want to play football, score goals and get 90 minutes under my belt each week so this is a good place to do that.

“I'm learning all the time and I've settled in well so I would be perfectly happy to stay for longer.”

Assombalonga scored twice in the first half and was joined on the score-sheet after the break by Ryan Cresswell.

But all three of the goals came Dagenham defender Luke Wilkinson had been sent off for a professional foul on Gavin Tomlin.

And Assombalonga felt it was the right decision.

“He caught Gavin after he got to the ball first and the way the rules are that means he has to be sent off unfortunately,” said Assombalonga.

“However playing against 10 men was really hard and so was the heat.

“My mouth was dry pretty much straight after taking a drink and it was so bad I was trying to shout and nothing was coming out.”

Despite that, Assombalonga was able to twice hit the back of the net.

But he was disappointed not to score the first hat-trick of his senior career.

“I could have scored four of five goals as the chances kept on coming but I didn’t take them,” he said.

“I was desperate for a hat-trick and at times I was probably a bit greedy but as a striker you want to score goals.

“I’ve never scored a hat-trick as I keep getting braces and I was hoping this would be the day I got my first one but it wasn’t to be.”

Assombalonga was still praised by Blues boss Paul Sturrock though and he was particularly impressed by the striker's second goal.

“I thought it proved Britt's a real predator,” said Sturrock.

“He was in the right place at the right time and also scored a fantastic header too.

“We're really pleased with how he's progressing and he's learning all the time but there's plenty of water to go under the bridge before we get in to extending his loan.”