GARY Hooper insists he has nothing to prove when he returns to Roots Hall with Scunthorpe United tonight.

The striker struggled during his spell with the Shrimpers - scoring four goals in 41 games - before leaving last summer.

But, since joining the Iron in a £175,000, 21-year-old Hooper has been in sparkling form.

He has already hit the back of the net 20 times this term and wants to add to that tally this evening.

“I am looking forward to going back to Southend and hopefully I can get on the scoresheet again there,” said Hooper who partnered current Southend striker Theo Robinson while on loan at Hereford United last season.

“I don’t feel I have anything to prove to them. I just want to go back there now and do well for Scunthorpe.

“I am sure we will have to play well down there because it will be a tough game, just like it was against them up here earlier in the season.”

Hooper’s goals have sent Scunthorpe up to third in the League One table.

And Blues boss Steve Tilson is bemused as to why the forward could not impress during his two year spell at Southend.

“Gary’s gone and done really for Scunthorpe but it certainly didn’t work out for him here,” he said.

“We gave him ample opportunities in the team but things never went his way.

“He’s moved away from London now and it seems to have done the trick and he’s got a lot of goals for them so fair play to him.”

Hooper will line up alongside former Shrimpers transfer target Paul Hayes tonight and Tilson is expecting a tricky test against the Iron.

“For me Scunthorpe are the best footballing team in our league,” said the Seasiders chief.

“They are a very good side and come to us in confidence after winning at Millwall on Saturday.

“That was a great result but we won too at the weekend and want to go and build on that now.”

Blues will again be missing strikers Alex Revell (broken leg), James Walker (hamstring) and Francis Laurent (ankle) while Anthony Grant has again been ruled out with a hamstring strain.

“Granty is improving but we aren’t going to risk him just yet,” confirmed Tilson.

“Alan McCormack is available though and that’s certainly good news for us.”

The Shrimpers have suffered no new injury concerns and are expected to field an unchanged starting line-up.

Southend (from): Mildenhall, Sankofa, Clarke, Dervite, Barrett, Francis, Christophe, McCormack, Moussa, Freedman, Robinson, Barnard, Scannell, Herd, Joyce, Betsy and O’Keefe