RICKY Holmes cannot wait to finally pull on a Southend United shirt.

The experienced winger, who grew up supporting the Shrimpers, has joined his home-town club until the end of the season.

And the 33-year-old is excited to be teaming up with Blues.

“"It’s been known over the years that I support Southend,” said Holmes, who was with the club as a youth team player.

“I’m from the area and one day I said I’d hopefully come back after getting released as a kid.

“Thankfully it’s happened now.”

After leaving the Shrimpers at the age of 16, Holmes impressed in non-league football with Chelmsford City before stepping up into the Football League in fine style.

Holmes lined up for Barnet, Portsmouth, Northampton, Charlton, Sheffield United and Oxford United before a second spell at Northampton ended last month.

But he is now looking to kick on at Roots Hall where he also sold programmes as a youngster.

"It’s great to sign,” said Holmes.

“It’s been a good week of training with a game in there as well to show that I’m fully fit and I can’t wait to get going on Saturday.

"The games are coming thick and fast so hopefully I can bring a lot to the team.”

Holmes is now desperate to help the Shrimpers beat the drop.

But relegation fights are nothing new for the winger. "When I broke into the professional game from non-league I was in a Barnet team that were struggling at the wrong end of the table and we survived both times,” said Holmes.

"So hopefully I can bring that experience and know-how and galvanise the group.

"The results have been good of late, so hopefully we can continue that and I can bring a lot to the team.”

Holmes is now in line to make his debut against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

But the winger has impressed at Roots Hall in the past, playing for the opposing sides.

"When you come back to your local club, especially the one that released you as a kid, you’ve always got a point to prove and I managed to do that a few times,” said Holmes.

"But now that I’ve got the shirt on I’ll hopefully score a few goals and get the assists we need to start winning games."