SOUTHEND United’s speedy strikers will be looking to get the Shrimpers back on track at Wrexham on Saturday.

The pacey Harry Cardwell and Callum Powell partnered each other in attack against Chesterfield on Tuesday night.

And, having both been impressive athletes in their youth, Blues could well boast the fastest forward line in the National League, something Cardwell feels Kevin Maher’s side use to their advantage.

“One of our strongest attributes is our pace,” said Cardwell.

“We look to get down the sides of teams and on the defensive side the pressing side of things is good as well.

“We put a lot of teams under pressure as well.”

Cardwell and Powell both ran under 11 seconds for 100metres as teenagers.

And Cardwell also represented his county at the English Schools.

“I was sprinting from when I was 14 to 16,” said Cardwell.

“I ran for my county Humberside and competed in the English National levels in the 4x100m relay.

“We came sixth or seventh in the country which was pretty decent.

“But I got told I had to make a choice between football and sprinting so I chose football because it’s more interesting than running in a straight line!”

Cardwell’s pace helped him hit the back of the net on his return from a hamstring injury against Chesterfield on Tuesday night.

But he was frustrated the goal could not help the Shrimpers avoid a 2-1 defeat at Roots Hall.

“On a personal note I was happy to get back out there and it was good to get on the score-sheet but it’s the result that matters,” said Cardwell.

“To come away with nothing was unfortunate and in the second half we came out of the blocks quite well.

“After their second goal went in we reacted well and had a lot of pressure on them but we weren’t our normal selves in the first half.”

Cardwell now has scored six goals in his last seven starts.

But the forward still feels he is playing catch up after missing the first three months of the campaign with an ankle injury.

“It’s been a stop start season for myself and I want to get as many minutes as possible before it ends,” said the 26-year-old.

“I want to contribute in any way I can to help the team get more points.

“It’s been quite difficult for myself and I feel like I’ve been playing catch up since the start after missing pre-season.

“But hopefully I can kick on from Tuesday night and carry on.”

However, the Shrimpers face the toughest possible task at this level tomorrow as they take on table-topping Wrexham.

And Cardwell is expecting another difficult clash.

“They’re a good side and they’re going well,” said the striker.

“It’s a tough test for us but it’s one we’ll be more than ready for.

“We’ll attack our game plan and do the best we can to get a result.”

Blues head into the match sitting eighth in the play-offs.

But Cardwell is still confident of securing a top seven finish.

“We’re focused on securing our play-off place and we’re in with a good chance of getting that,” said the forward.

“We’re still in and around it and we’ve got two games in hand on some of the sides above us.”

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