SOUTHEND United will desperately be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season when the new campaign gets underway.

But that will not be the case for Shrimpers striker Charlie Kelman this weekend.

The 18-year-old bagged a brace to help Blues win 2-1 at Stevenage in the first round of the Carabao Cup last August.

And Kelman is keen to secure more of the same when Mark Molesley’s side kick off their campaign with another cup clash at Gillingham tomorrow.

“Last year I scored two in the first round of this competition and we won the game as well so hopefully it’s the same on Saturday,” said Kelman.

“I just hope this time if I do score I actually get to play in the next round and we can have a cup run.”

The Shrimpers had suffered eight successive first round exits in the League Cup before Kelman’s efforts helped end the wretched run of results.

But this weekend’s clash - despite the lack of fans - will bring extra excitement for Blues as it marks their first competitive fixture since the coronavirus pandemic curtailed the previous campaign in March.

And Kelman cannot wait to be back in action.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said the youngster who came through the club’s youth system.

“We had all been getting bored so it’s nice to be getting back to some kind of normality now.

“We’re all excited to get going.”

The Shrimpers will also be ‘getting going’ with a new manager in charge after Mark Molesley replaced Sol Campbell in the Roots Hall hot-seat last month.

And Kelman is already enjoying being part of a new regime.

“The intensity is always the same now and that’s what has surprised me,” said Kelman.

“They’re always on it all the time and it’s nice to get some stability now so hopefully we can kick on throughout the season.”

Blues warmed up for the campaign with a number of pre-season friendlies, many of which saw Kelman lining up in a much deeper role.

And the youngster is looking to add more to his game this season.

“I’ve adopted a new role and I’ve been playing as a 10 to try new things in pre-season,” said Kelman.

“But for me it’s a learning curve and adding things to my game.”

Kelman will be bidding to take that into the new season and is also keen to start enjoying football again.

“I’ll be looking to score as much as I can, I want to help the team and I want to enjoy it as well because that’s the main thing,” said Kelman.

 “This is hopefully the first time I can enjoy the football and give it my all.”

And Kelman will not be distracted by any speculation surrounding his future with Swansea City already having a bid for him turned down this summer. 

“I’m focusing on what I have to do and scoring goals,” he added,.

“Whatever the future has the future has.”