JASON Demetriou insists Southend United are already raring to go for the new season and is keen to play a prominent part himself.

Blues’ squad will report back for testing today and tomorrow before properly starting pre-season training on Monday.

And Demetriou, who is currently on his way back from a knee injury, knows the squad cannot wait to get started.

“Everyone will be raring to go,” said the right-back.

“There’s more to come from this squad with the players we have and we all want to go and show that.

“The lads all did so well to dig in at the end of last season and stay up because at one point we looked out of it.

“Everything was going against us it seemed but we were still able to stay up.

“Now we want to make sure we’re challenging towards the other end of the table and of course I want to play my part in that too after a frustrating season for me.”

Demetriou was restricted to 25 starts last term after suffering two knee injuries which both required surgery.

The second operation took place in late April but Demetriou is pleased with the progress being made.

“I think I may need one or two more weeks with the physio but then hopefully I’ll be ready for pre-season,” said Demetriou.

“I need to see how it reacts and I probably need to be a bit more cautious this time too.

“With the first injury I had, maybe I tried to rush back because I was so desperate to get back out there and help the lads.

“But this time I need to be sensible and see how it’s progressing.

“It’s feeling alright at the moment and hopefully everything will go smoothly but we will have to see how it reacts.”

But Demetriou is determined to again become a regular in Blues’ back four.

“I’ve played a lot of games in my career and want to get back to playing regularly again next season,” said Demetriou.

“I must have played about 500 games now and maybe that caught up with me because I’ve had problems with that knee in the past.

“My left knee has had no problems at all but that one is just for driving on!

“But I will have had eight to 10 weeks of rest on my right knee now too and that will have helped.

“We all want this season to be much better and I want to make sure I play in more games.

“But I have to be sensible at this stage and not rush anything again.”