DAN Mooney is eager to play his part in helping Southend United bounce back from Saturday’s defeat at Gateshead.

Mooney came off the bench to score a late consolation goal for the Shrimpers in the 3-1 defeat.

And, having now recovered from the groin problem which kept him sidelined for six games, Mooney is eager to impress.

“I need to add more goals and take more of the chances I had been getting before the injury,” said Mooney.

“I want to get my numbers up and that will help the team push on too.

“But it’s about getting back to winning ways and playing like we were on the unbeaten run now.

“It was a bump in the road on Saturday but we can go again and we’re good enough to bounce back too which is the main thing.”

Mooney’s appearance off the bench was just his second since being forced out of action in early October.

But the 23-year-old did initially try to play through the pain.

“It’s been a bit of a niggly one for me and I tried to play through it for a while,” said Mooney.

“But in the end it needed some time off to rest and repair the groin.

“It wasn’t anything major but with the amount of games building up it was just getting a little bit worse game by game.

“It’s a long season and you don’t want to make anything worse so it was the right thing to do.

“But I’m buzzing to be back now.”

And Mooney is no longer being troubled by the issue.

“It feels fine now,” said the summer signing.

“The rest and the work I’ve done in the gym with the physio and Stef (Russo) is perfect.

“It felt good when I came back on the other day and on a personal note it was good.

“But as a team we were disappointed with the loss and need to go and bounce back on Saturday now.”

Mooney featured in a number 10 role after entering the action against Gateshead having previously played wide in central midfield.

And he does feel more at home in a more attacking role.

“Obviously wherever the gaffer sees me playing I’ll go out there and give it my all to help the team get the points,” said Mooney.

“But I do like that 10 role and having the freedom to show my creative side."

Mooney will now be hoping for another opportunity to impress at Aldershot this weekend.

But he is expecting another tough test for Kevin Maher's team.

"I've played them before with Altrincham and it’s a tough place to go," said Mooney.

"We just need to focus on ourselves again this week though and bounce back from Saturday."

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>The last look at Blues' defeat to Gateshead