MACAULEY Bonne is getting his love for football back with Southend United.

The 28-year-old striker made his first start for the Shrimpers in Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at AFC Fylde.

And, despite his disappointment at the result, Bonne is starting to relish being at Roots Hall.

“I’m really enjoying it,” said Bonne.

“The boys have all been really welcoming and the manager has been sound with me too.

“I needed to come somewhere to get my love for the game again and I need to be happy playing football again.

“My last few years haven’t been great.

“I’ve moved around too much and not found anywhere to settle but I can really feel already this is a place I want to settle.

“I’ve been here a week and it already feels like it’s been a season.

“The only thing missing is the goal and the wins but once that happens we’ll start to climb up the league.”

The Shrimpers are currently 17th in the National League standings.

And Bonne was gutted to return home from Fylde empty handed after Nick Haughton bagged an injury time winner for the hosts.

“It’s gut-wrenching,” said Bonne.

“At 1-1 if we don’t win the game then we have to make sure we see it out for at least a point.

“We’ve got to take a long hard look at ourselves to see what we’ve got to do to improve and make sure we see games out without losing.

“We had a good chat in there after the game and after the equaliser it felt like we were on a high with the fans behind us.

“We got some spirit going but things didn’t go our way and unfortunately they went and got the winner.”

Bonne is now keen to play his part in helping Blues bounce back.

And he took heart from playing the full 90 minutes at Fylde as he continues to work towards regaining full match fitness.

“I wouldn’t say I’m fully fit yet but I’ll do a job,” said Bonne.

“If I’d come off after 60 minutes I wouldn’t have moaned but it’s good to play 90 minutes and see where my body’s at.

“I’m not fully there yet but even if I’d got one leg I’d have carried on to try and get us at least a point.

“I’ve got through the game fortunately with no injuries.

“I’ve got a few aches and pains but it will take me a few more weeks to get fully fit.”

Bonne had not played since April prior to joining Blues.

And he is still desperately seeking his first goal for Kevin Maher’s side.

“I’m dying to (score),” said Bonne.

“I had a header saved there tonight, I should’ve scored against Eastleigh and at the weekend but it will come as I’ll get my sharpness back again.”

However, Bonne did tee up Gus Scott-Morriss to score for the seventh time this season.

But the striker admits the Shrimpers cannot keep relying on their in-form right wing-back for goals.

“I’m happy to get the assist and he’s on a real scoring streak,” said Bonne.

“As a right-back you can’t ask for much more and he’s leading by example but we’ve all got to step up all over the pitch now and score goals.

“We’ve got to help him, it can’t all be down to him.”

However, Bonne feels the team are still trying to gel.

“We’re a new group,” said the forward.

“I’ve been here a week and there are other new players so it will take time to gel but we haven’t got long to gel.

“We need to get it done quick and fast.

“We’ll go back to basics, we’ll go over what our mistakes are and hopefully iron them out for the next game.”

Blues head to eighth placed Solihull Moors this weekend.

And Bonne has already switched his focus onto bouncing back.

“All focus now is on Solihull Moors,” said Bonne.

“We can’t look at this result now.

“We should’ve had three points but all focus is trying to get them on Saturday now.”