After some frustrating times at Reading, I am getting excited about football again.

It?s that time of year when everyone is optimistic and the papers are full of stories about players, managers and clubs and their hopes for the season.

I had to plan my Sunday around the Community Shield and it?s great to have football come around again especially as I know I am going to be involved.

My new team, Southend, were unlucky to lose 2-1 to Port Vale on Saturday. I thought the guys fought back well after the break and we could have sneaked a draw if a few things had gone our way.

Because we have just gone up, there are going to be people wondering whether we can cut it at the higher level, so it?s important that we get that first win as soon as possible.

There are some pretty decent players in the side and Freddy Eastwood, who is probably the guy I am going to link up with, looks a good player.

He seems the sort of lad who can get the ball on the edge of the box, beat a man and lash it home ? he looks good around the box which could work out well and complement my style of play.

And it was nice to be at the ground. I watched from up in the stands but I got introduced to the fans before the game.

A few of them tried to get out the ?Feed the Goat? thing but it wasn?t quite a chorus ? hopefully I will give them something to shout about when I get back into the team.

But they gave me a pretty good reception, which was great to hear. I am getting good vibes about Southend and am looking forward to getting involved as soon as possible.

It?s a nice little ground and there is a good atmosphere there. Apparently there were only about 6,500 there on Saturday but it felt like a few thousand more. If you have passionate fans, whether 6,000 or 40,000, it can really get you going ? that?s what I love about this game.

And I?m pleased to say that the rehab is going better than I thought and I am closer to fitness than maybe I expected.

I had a training session on Saturday ? a bit of running and a bit of ball work ? and it went fine and I didn?t feel my calf at all.

I?ll keep working on it this week and we?ll see where we are. I?ll be training with the juniors today because the first team are up at Bradford tonight and hopefully it won?t be too much longer before I can play again.

I doubt I?ll be back for the trip to Walsall on Saturday and if I do, it?ll be only just and I?ll only be looking to make the bench. If not, hopefully the week after.

But my rehab is a lot easier here than it was when I hurt my calf for Reading last year. At least I know I have something to work towards and that when I do get fit, I am going to get a chance to play again.

At Southend I am already a lot happier and I just want to get out on to that pitch and start scoring some goals.

It?s good to see Shaun Wright-Phillips playing on such a big stage. I spent quite a few years with him at City and he was a great kid.

He was always keen and enthusiastic, worked hard and wanted to learn. Knowing the sort of kid he is, he will be pleased with what is being said about him.

Papers over here are saying that he is not worth as much as Chelsea paid for him, and I know he is going to thrive on that and be determined to prove the critics wrong.

He is going to use all his talent to show that they have still got a bargain even at that price.

Shaun is a great little player, I think he set up about ten goals for me in my last couple of years at City and he?s always a great guy to have on your team.