SOUTHEND United midfielder Jack Wood is enjoying being a student of the game - in more ways than one.

For not only is the 19-year-old learning on the training ground every day.

But he is still working towards obtaining a degree at university.

“I’m studying international football business at UCFB at Wembley,” said Wood.

“I’m just completing the first year now which is nearly over and once that’s all finished I’ll be stepping out.

“I can put it on pause for the time being and focus 100 per cent on Southend.”

Wood has been combining his studies with his football since joining the Shrimpers from Kings Langley back in January.

And the youngster now feels he has fully adjusted to full-time football.

“It took a few weeks to adapt to it at the start because I wasn’t used to training every day but now I’m in the full swing of it,” said Wood.

“I feel like I’m improving every day with the quality of the coaches we have and I enjoy every day too.

“I always look forward to coming in.

“All the players made me feel so welcome from the very start and I’m loving every bit of it.”

However, the Shrimpers are not the first professional club Wood has been involved with.

“I was at Watford until I was 14,” said the midfielder.

“I took a step out of academies after that and went to enjoy playing my football again.

“I joined Hertford with some of my mates and got my confidence up again.”

But another move soon followed.

“When I was 16 I went to Berkhamsted where I was playing with my mates as well but after a few months I was training with the first team,” said Wood.

“That made me get more serious with my football and I soon joined Kings Langley where I was with until joining Southend.”

Wood made his Shrimpers debut a late substitute against Altrincham last month.

But he will be pushing for more first team opportunities during the remainder of the campaign.

“A little goal of mine is to try and get more minutes between now and the end of the season,” said Wood.

“I’ll keep on working hard and keep putting in 100 per cent in to every training session so hopefully that will pay off soon.”

Wood did his claims for a first team slot no harm at all with a fine goal for the under 23s at Enfield Town on Tuesday night.

And the midfielder thoroughly enjoyed the run out for Danny Heath’s side.

“It was really good,” said Wood.

“I haven’t been playing much since signing so I really enjoyed being out on the pitch again and completing 90 minutes was good.

“I had a lot of confidence going into the game as in training all the players have been really good with me so when I was playing the game I wanted to show what I can do.”