SOUTHEND Saxons’ Sam Fombo is back in action after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The Basildon based second row picked up the problem playing for Wakatu Marist in New Zealand last May.

But the fit-again 21-year-old started Saturday’s 51-18 defeat at Clifton for the Saxons.

And he is delighted to back on the pitch.

“It’s been frustrating for me because I got the injury in the very first game I played over in New Zealand,” said Fombo.

“It turned out I had a chronic grade two ruptured ACL and there was some cartilage floating about in my right knee too.

“It really flared up after the game and it was obviously disappointing having to miss matches for Southend too.

“It’s been really stressful too watching the boys out on the field, especially when we were losing over the silliest things.”

Southend started the National Two South with five defeats in six games before getting themselves back on track with a run of three successive victories.

However, since then the Saxons have been beaten twice in a row and Fombo was disappointed to return with a heavy defeat at Clifton.

“It was an odd one because I felt we were still in the game in the second half,” said Fombo.

“We started off well but things went downhill when we weren't making our first up tackles and it was a bad result in the end.”

Southend therefore sunk to 12th in the 16 team National Two South standings.

And Fombo is now keen for a return to winning ways when they host sixth placed Old Elthamians at Warners Bridge this weekend.

“We don't want to be in the same situation we were in a couple seasons back with the relegation battle,” said Fombo.

“So for us to escape that kind of battle again this season we need to turn things around before the new year, starting with Saturday.”