SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Steve Arnold feared he may be forced to retire before making his long awaited return from injury tonight.

Arnold had been out of action with a hip problem since August before returning for the 2-1 defeat against Chesterfield at Roots Hall.

And Arnold relished being back between the sticks just months after starting to think it might never happen again.

“When you do get an injury like that you start to question, is this it?,” said Arnold.

“We just couldn’t get to the bottom of it and it was really frustrating and really worrying too.

“It was really, really tough, especially when you’ve got a young family.

“You think you’ve got a few more years then all of a sudden that could potentially be taken away.

“Thankfully it turned out to be something simple in the end and I’m grateful to be back out there.

“Hopefully I’ve got a good few more years yet.”

Arnold, was voted player of the year last season, started the first three matches of the season before being forced onto the sidelines.

And he was excited to be back in action against the Spireites.

“It was lovely to be back out there again but it’s disappointing to lose, especially after the second half when I thought we were the better team and created the better chances,” said Arnold.

“It’s frustrating with where we are in the league as well and it’s points dropped but I don’t think the other results were too bad.

“We’re still in and we’ve got a big game to focus on for Saturday now.”

Arnold looks set to continue between the sticks for the Shrimpers at Wrexham this weekend.

And he is keen to kick on after Blondy Nna Noukeu was recalled from his loan spell at Roots Hall by his parent club Stoke City.

“I’ve been back training for about three weeks,” said Arnold.

“Blondy’s loan got extended so I was thinking I had a bit more time and could get a few games in.

“But I got the call late on for tonight’s game and you have to be ready.

“Luckily I didn’t have too much to do and it was just a game to get through and build on for me.”

Arnold will be looking to do just that and is relieved to finally be pain free once again after months of misery.

“We didn’t know where the injury was coming from,” said Arnold.

“It was my back and my glute and we were getting scans that would come back clear.

“But we found what it was in the end and it was just a cyst on the hip.

“It wasn’t anything too serious and just needed a little operation but I feel better than before now which is good.”

And Arnold’s experience also meant he was fine to feature despite a lack of match action.

“It's not too bad because I don’t do a lot of running but ideally you’d like to have one or two 60 minutes at least," said the keeper. 

“But you find your feet and I’m lucky to have experience so it all comes back to you as soon as you cross that white line.

“It wasn’t too bad although those two runs forward at the end took it out of me.”

Arnold joined Blues in attack for two set pieces late on and even got his head to a left wing cross from Jack Bridge.

“I’ll start working on my heading from Thursday in training!,” he added.

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