ADAM Thompson will be a man on a mission when Southend United head to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend.

The on-loan Watford defender is eager to show Blues boss Phil Brown that he should stay in the starting line-up, even when Mark Phillips returns from a groin injury.

And he also wants to prove a point to the Chairboys following a disappointing loan spell with them last season.

“I didn’t have a very good time at Wycombe to be honest,” said Thompson, 20.

“I started two games, one against Southend and one against Chesterfield, but we lost them both and then the manager got sacked.

“I went back to Watford after that so I’m going back to Wy-combe at the weekend with a point to prove really, and obviously I want to help the team get an important victory.

“I also want to play well to try to keep my place in the side.”

Thompson has started the last two games in place of the injured Phillips and has lined up alongside Luke Prosser at the heart of the Blues back four.

But, last time out, the Shrimpers suffered a 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield.

And Thompson knows the team must now get back to winning ways to prove their promotion credentials.

“How we bounce back from losing on Saturday is going to define us as a team,” said Thompson.

“The other sides in the league will be looking out for our result wondering if we’re going to crumble or react strongly, but we’re all quite confident we can get the result we want.”

Thompson also believes Blues are more than capable of picking up all three points at Adams Park after being impressed by the team’s performance against Chesterfield.

The Shrimpers more than matched the Spireites before conceding an injury-time goal.

But the defender has urged his team-mates to remain upbeat.

“Chesterfield away was probably the hardest game we’ll face this season and with the squad they’ve got they’re more than equipped to be in League One, but we held our own and probably played a little bit better than them,” said Thompson.

“It was gutting to lose, especially the way it happened with us conceding a goal right at the end of the game.

“However, we have to bounce back against Wycombe now and if we play like we have been already this season then we have a real chance of that happening.”