SOUTHEND United’s academy Ricky Duncan wants Blues’ youngsters to show the mental toughness needed to work their way into the first team.

Several of the Shrimpers’ promising players featured for Kevin Bond’s side at the start of pre-season.

However, Rob Howard, Tom Clifford, Michael Klass and Harry Phillips have now all returned to work with the under-23s and Duncan is urging them to display the character needed to bounce back into Bond’s plans.

“It’s been fantastic for them to be involved with the first team in pre-season and it’s given them a real taste now which they should want more of,” said Duncan.

“The manager took a few over and I think we had seven or eight with the first team at one point.

“He took them away on tour so they were able to see what he wants.

“Three or four have come back down now but that was always going to happen.

“They’ve had a taste of it but they have to show some mental toughness now and work on what the manager has asked.

“Some of them might go out on loan but hopefully in a few months they can go back over, show what they have learnt and be banging on the door to be with the first team on a regular basis.”

The Shrimpers’ under-23 side will be under a new coach this season and the club remain in talks to replace the departed Kevin Maher, who is now first team coach at Bristol Rovers.

Dave Huzzey is currently working alongside Duncan with the under-23s and he has been impressed by the new-look squad which contains a number of last year’s under-18 side who won Merit League One at the end of last season.

“Losing Kevin was the first thing coming up but Dave has stepped up with the coaching while we’re looking for someone else to come in,” explained Duncan.

“Everyone looks sharp, they’ve done their work away from the ground and the atmosphere is good too.”

The Shrimpers’ youngsters will start the upcoming campaign in September.

And they will again be facing a variety of fixtures in the months ahead.

“They will be in the Capital League but it’s a bit smaller this year,” added Duncan.

“There will be seven or eight league fixtures, four cup and then the Premier League Cup after that too.

“We’ll try and get games with local teams too so there will be quite a mixture of games.

“It’s a varied programme but they need that if they’re to push into the first team.”