Southend United new boy James Walker is planning to fire the Shrimpers back into the League One promotion race.

The 20-year-old striker completed a £200,000 switch from Charlton Athletic yesterday, signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the Roots Hall Club.

Walker is now determined to end Blues' goalscoring problems and shoot the Shrimpers back up the League One table.

"Hopefully I can score loads of goals for the football club and help Southend get into the Champion-ship again," he said.

"I will work as hard as I can and this is a good move for me.

"It's nice and local to where I live in Leyton and it's a chance for me to play first-team football, which is what I want at this stage of my career.

"There is still a long way to go as well so I'm sure we shall be looking to get back into the top six again."

Walker had been with Charlton for the past nine years but failed to work his way into the first team at the Valley.

But he has spent time on loan with Hartlepool, Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient, Notts County and Yeovil Town, all of which he believes have helped improve his game.

"The loan spells were good for me," re-called Walker.

"I learned a lot and got to go to new places and meet new people which also helped me come on as a player.

"It's nice to now be making a permanent move, though, and I feel it's come at the right time for me."

Walker's last loan spell came at Yeovil, where he scored three goals in 15 games, came to an end just before Saturday's clash between Blues and the Glovers at Roots Hall - a game which Walker found strange to watch.

"I wanted to be out there but I didn't know who I should be playing for," he joked.

"I thought Southend did well in the first half before it got a bit scrappy but I'm looking forward to getting out there with the rest of the boys."

Walker, who has been described as "a star in the making" by chairman Ron Martin, will get his chance at Bournemouth this weekend - a side he has already scored the winning goal against this season.

"It will be weird playing against the same players again and I'm sure they will be thinking Oh, it's you again' but it will be good," said Walker who netted for the Somerset side in a 2-1 win over the Cherries in December.

"Hopefully I can do the same against them this time as well."

Manager Steve Tilson also hopes that can happen and was quick to express his delight at bringing the youngster to south Essex.

"James is getting stronger all the time and I'm really pleased we've signed him," said the Southend boss.

"I've seen him play and he makes things happen.

"We're a club looking to the future and James definitely fits into that because he's only going to get better."

Written by Chris Phillps, Southend Echo