SOUTHEND United’s problematic pre-season has opened the door to a handful of the club’s youngsters.

Blues boss Kevin Maher currently has just 14 contracted in his squad and was forced to cancel two pre-season games before Saturday's clash at Bishop's Stortford.

The Shrimpers won the game 4-1 and will be back in action at Canvey Island tonight, with Zak Hammond, Jake Huet, Ronnie Blake, George Pulham and Jacob Bland again all likely to be in the squad.

And Blues' youth team coach Danny Heath is delighted to see them involved.

"It's brilliant for them to be around the first team coaches and the first team players," said Heath.

"They really will learn a lot from it."

The five youngsters all came off the bench at Bishop's Stortford, with Hammond and Huet both lining up at the back.

"Zak came in last year on trial as an under 16 player," said Heath, "He’s a player we fought hard and long for in the summer because he had a few options.

"We did all we could to get him and he wanted to come to us which was great.

"Zak’s an old school defender, he’s defends with controlled aggression.

"He will play at the right times but will also clear his lines."

Huet appeared alongside him at the weekend and is now back in action after recovering from a serious injury setback.

"Jake Huet is a great story," said Heath.

"He’s been at the club since he was an under seven player but he missed his under 16 season and pretty much all of the first year of his scholarship through injury.

"His first minutes of last season came in the last two games of the season so for him it’s a great achievement because he’s had to deal with a lot of lows.

"To go from that to the highs of Saturday is a compliment to him and the hard work he’s put in."

Further forward, Blake featured in midfield following his introduction.

And he has also been with Blues for quite a considerable amount of time.

"Ronnie's been with the club since the under 10s," said Heath.

"He’s a midfielder who can also play in a front three, a front two or a wide centre mid."

Bland also lines up in the centre of the park and will be the club's only third year scholar this season.

"He’s the only one who got offered his third year out of the players last year," said Heath.

"Blandy stuck at it all last year and never gave up. He was always coming in and he’s a good player."

Striker Pulham also came on against Bishop's Stortford and earned his opportunity with Blues in quite an unusual way.

"Last year as a first year he played in our community team," said Heath.

"He was doing their college course and playing for the team with Ross Johnson.

"He was someone we monitored all year.

"Last season in the early rounds of the FA Youth Cup, Ross Johnson brought the community team across so we could play against them in training as part of our preparations.

"George caught our eye and was someone we knew we wanted to get in over the summer He’s now come on board on to the youth team set up and it's a good story for the club."