SOUTHEND United's new midfielder Scott Donnelly was left disappointed after Tuesday night's scheduled Essex Senior Cup clash was postponed due a waterlogged pitch.

Donnelly, who joined Blues on a month's loan from Aldershot late last week, will have few opportunities to impress manager Paul Sturrock.

And he was therefore gutted not to play at Lower Road.

“I was really looking forward to getting a game so it was really disappointing to find out it had been called off,” said Donnelly, 24.

“I'm cup tied for Southend's next two games so there's no way of me being involved with them and I'm only here for an initial month so I'm not going to get too many chances.

“But I'll keep working hard in training and can hopefully impress the manager to get a chance in the team.

“However, everyone is playing really well at the moment so I know it's going to be tough to get picked.”

Donnelly is hungry to impress however after enduing a frustrating start to the season with Aldershot.

The former QPR and Swansea City midfielder was handed just four starts by the Shots before being told they could not afford to keep him.

And that led to a very sudden switch to Southend.

“It all came out of the blue and was pretty crazy to be honest,” said Donnelly.

Aldershot agreed to let me go out which was good because otherwise I would've been playing in the Blue Square South or even lower up until January.

“We didn't have much time to get things sorted and I certainly wouldn't want to go through something like that again.

“In the end, I had a few options but I chose Southend because it was the closest to where I live.”

As a result, Donnelly finds himself back at Roots Hall where he also trained as a trialist during pre-season.

And the midfielder insisted that had made it easier to settle in to his new surroundings.

“Knowing everyone already certainly helps and there are a great group of lads here,” said Donnelly.

“I'm really pleased to be here and will do the best I can.

“Hopefully that can lead to me doing well here but if it doesn't then we'll look at things again in January and go from there.”