SOUTHEND United manager Kevin Bond feels new boy Layton Ndukwu will give the Shrimpers an added X-factor.

The winger has joined Blues on loan from Leicester City for the remainder of the season.

And Bond is backing the youngster to make a big impression in League One.

“I’m hoping he will give us that X-Factor,” said Bond.

“He’s somebody who can beat a player, somebody who can do something different, create and he offers pace.

“It’s also his first opportunity to play football that really matters.”

Blues had been short of options out wide following Michael Kightly’s decision to retire in the summer.

Brandon Goodship, who is more naturally a striker, featured out wide against Coventry City on Saturday.

But Bond will now give Ndukwu the backing he needs to hit top form.

“We’ll give him all the encouragement he needs to produce his best at Southend,” said Bond.

“He’s highly thought of and we had some reports on him last season playing for the Leicester under 23s which were all positive.

“I spoke to the manager at Leicester about him, I spoke to the people who look after him and his youth coaches and they all think he is ready for the opportunity, so we’re going to give him that opportunity.

“I look forward to him showing us and the Southend supporters what he’s got.”

Ndukwu, who was with the Shrimpers squad for Saturday’s clash with Coventry, will go straight into the squad for this weekend’s game with Blackpool at Roots Hall.

And Bond feels the 20-year-old will be entertain the Blues’ fans.

“We need somebody out wide who can do something,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“We’ve got Macca (Stephen McLaughlin) who offers us that natural width but we need somebody else to give us that little bit of something and get bums off seats so I’ll look forward to seeing what he can offer us.”

Ndukwu came through the ranks at Leicester but has yet to appear for the Foxes first-team.

However, the wide-man - who has represented England at Youth Lions - has scored twice in seven games for Leicester’s under 23 team in the Checkatrade Trophy in the past two seasons.

The winger recently extended his Leicester contract until 2021 and is the Shrimpers’ seventh signing of the summer