KACPER Lopata wants his loan spell at Southend United to signal the end of his academy career.

The centre-back, who is with the Shrimpers from Sheffield United, impressed on his debut at Boreham Wood on Saturday.

And the 20-year-old is determined to build on his good start and show he is more than ready for senior football.

"I don’t want to play academy football anymore," said Lopata. 

"I want to get experience and exposure here.

"I’m going to be playing against experienced and intelligent players and strikers who have been in the game for a while.

"I’ll be picking up bits I might not pick up in the 23s and this is the next step for me now.

"I want to be a first team player."

Lopata lined up at the heart of the back three for the Shrimpers at Boreham Wood and relished his first taste of National League football, despite the 1-0 defeat.

"I really enjoyed it," said Lopata.

"Obviously we didn’t manage to get any points but on the positive side I think the performance was up there.

"It was miles better than the previous weeks from what I’ve watched and from what the other boys said in the changing room as well.

"I enjoyed it but it’s on to Tuesday now and the match with Dover."

The Shrimpers will go into the game sitting 21st in the standings.

But Lopata feels Blues are starting to move in the right direction.

"The gaffer was just saying it’s a different changing room to what it was a week ago and we all buzz off it," said Lopata.

"It’s hard to say that after a game like this when you’ve lost 1-0 but the reaction on and off the pitch is what matters.

"It’s a big match on Tuesday but I try and treat every match like a final.

"Boreham are top of the league now but we went toe to toe with them.

"We’re good enough but it’s just about making it count in the final third and we'll look to do that Tuesday."

A point for Blues against rock-bottom Dover would see them move out of the drop zone.

But the lowly league placing did not stop Lopata jump at the chance of coming to Roots Hall until at least January.

"I got a call from Paul Heckingbotham saying Darren Currie and the gaffer here were interested," said Lopata.

"As soon as I heard that I said yes, 100 per cent I want to go."

Lopata worked with Blues assistant head coach Currie towards the end of last season when he went in to work with Sheffield United's under 23 side on a temporary basis.

But Currie is not the only familiar face at Roots Hall for Lopata as his Blades team-mate Zak Brunt has also signed for the Shrimpers on loan, something which also pleases the Polish defender. 

"We bounce off each other," said Lopata.

"We’re good friends and made our debuts together.

"We’ve been on pre-season together with the first team too and it’s good to have that person.

"It will be more important when things aren’t going right and on our days off.

"There’s always someone there and I think that’s important."