ON LOAN Southend United goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu is starting to feel more settled with the Shrimpers.

Nna Noukeu – who is with Blues from Stoke City – has kept clean sheets in his last two outings.

And the 21-year-old believes he is now developing far more of an understanding with the defenders in front of him.

“The more you play the better it gets,” said Nna Noukeu.

“Obviously I was discovering everything to begin with but now it’s a lot easier.

“I’m not saying it’s perfect, I have a lot of things to work on but it’s definitely better than the first games.

“Everything feels more simple now.

“It's about getting used to the team and the level.

“Everything is coming into place and it’s good to start seeing the results now for all the hard work but we have to keep it going.”

Nna Noukeu kept a clean sheet at Bromley in Blues’ first outing of 2023 before also shutting out Solihull Moors on Saturday.

And the Shrimpers keeper was pleased to help Kevin Maher’s side get back to winning ways.

“It was a very complete and solid performance,” said Nna Noukeu.

“We could have scored more but it’s a 3-0 win and offensively we were very productive.

“Defensively I don’t remember having too many shots to stop so it was a complete performance and very good for the whole team.”

The victory kept Blues sixth in the National League standings.

But attention will turn towards the FA Trophy this weekend as Darlington visit Roots Hall for a fourth round tie.

And Nna Noukeu is certain the Shrimpers can produce another strong display.

“We’re all very confident,” said the custodian.

“We’re happy from the last win and we have more than enough to put another shift in on Saturday.

“We respect the opponent and they’re a very good team but we have no reason to feel bad.

“We’re strong and feeling confident.”

Nna Noukeu also kept a clean sheet to help Blues beat Boreham Wood in the previous round of the competition.

But he remains unsure if his loan spell will be extended when it expires at the end of January.

“It’s difficult for me to speak because I don’t know what’s going on with the direction of the club,” said Nna Noukeu.

“All I can say is that it’s very good for me so far and whatever happens I will be ready for.”

Nna Noukeu has remained ready throughout his career.

And it was that determination which led to him leaving Belgian side Mouscron to join Stoke City when aged 19.

“I was in Belgium in the first division,” recalled Nna Noukeu.

“I was with their reserve team and then had the opportunity to go to Stoke which I took.

“I went there on trial and it was very good.

“They were interested in me so I signed.

“It was a long journey with some difficult moments but that’s how it happened.

“My family weren’t pleased with me going to Stoke but ultimately it was a very good decision for me.”

And, by then, Nna Noukeu had already been playing in goal for quite some time.

“I was about seven when I first went in goal,” said Nna Noukeu.

“We used to play seven against seven but nobody in my team wanted to go in goal.

“I was the only one who was tall and big so the coach asked me and I said yes.

“I went in goal and the game went really well.

“At the end of every game we would do penalties for fun whatever the score was.

“I saved every penalty that day and I’ve been in goal ever since.”