Youngster Craig Calver hopes to be involved with the Southend United first team on a more regular basis next season.

Calver, who was handed a year long development contract at the end of this season, was a second half substitute in Tuesday's night's benefit match for Spencer Prior.

And the former Ipswich Town trainee hopes to get a further taste of action next season for Steve Tilson's team.

"It was lovely to be involved in Spencer Prior's game," said Calver who scored 23 goals last season for Blues title winning youth team.

"I didn't realise I was going to be playing until the morning of the match but it was a great experience for me to be out there with the first team players - and hopefully that's something that I can achieve."

Calver will return with the first team for pre-season training in July and hopes to be involved in the Blues busy pre-season schedule alongside the likes of Johnny Herd and Stuart O'Keefe who have also featured in the senior side since coming through the ranks.

"They've both done superbly and of course it would be nice to do as well as they have," he said.

"This pre-season is going to be massive for me so after a couple of week's break which you obviously need I'm going to be working really hard. I want to be as fit as I can and be nice and ready for when we begin our pre-season training.

"There are quite a few strikers here but I have confidence in my ability and my target for next year is to try and get a few appearances off the bench for the first team."

Calver will also head into the new campaign full of confidence are lifting the Youth Alliance trophy with the Blues under 18 side.

"The season just gone couldn't have gone any better for me really," Craig added.