SAM Barratt is still aiming to hit top form at Southend United.

The 24-year-old winger has made eight appearances since recovering from a cruciate ligament injury which kept him sidelined for 16 months.

But Barratt does not yet feel he is at his best with Blues.

“I think I’m still learning and finding my feet,” said Barratt.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve lived up to the bar I set for myself. There’s still lots to improve on, but I’ve had glimpses of what I feel like I used to be able to do.

“Part of rebuilding that confidence to run at players and attack them constantly, even under fatigue, takes time and I’m just getting back into that.”

Barratt joined the Shrimpers from Maidenhead United last summer but made just one substitute appearance for the first team before being forced onto the sidelines.

But the winger is finally getting the chance to line-up in the Football League after a tough period on the treatment table.

“I worked so hard to get into pro football and was starting to find my feet and understand the full-time environment so to have that snatched away from me before I even had the chance to make an impact was heartbreaking to be honest,” said Barratt.

“But in that situation you’ve just got to flip it, look at the positives and work hard to get back to where you want to be.

“I’m back now but it’s a lot all at once. Last pre-season I was eased into it and I felt like I was settling at this level, so to go from that to being out for so long is almost like starting again.

"I’m loving the opportunity to play at this level and hopefully I can keep improving with game time.”

Barratt came off the bench and claimed his first assist in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Burton Albion at Roots Hall. And he is keen to keep on making a good impression.

“I’m finding my feet again, trying to rebuild some confidence, play my own game, do what comes naturally to me and hopefully I can make a good impact,” said Barratt.

“But you sort of forget your routine going into starting a game and you have got to work out what works best for you again because the nerves got the better of me against Lincoln.”