CRAIG Fagan feels there has never been a better time to be an under-23 player at Southend United.

Eleven products of the Shrimpers’ academy were selected in the first team squad for Saturday’s 2-1 win against Lincoln City.

And Fagan feels the youngsters will continue to get more opportunities, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Blackpool.

“People are going to get chances and it’s probably the best time to be in the under-23s or the 18s for trying to get into the first team,” said Fagan, the Shrimpers’ under-23s coach.

“It’s not going to change either.

“There’s not suddenly going to be six or seven players coming in.

“It’s an opportunity for people so they have to train and keep learning.”

Elvis Bwomono, Tom Clifford, Isaac Hutchinson, Harry Phillips and Charlie Kelman all started against Lincoln last time out while Miles Mitchell-Nelson and Kenny Coker both came off the bench.

But Fagan insists Blues coaches will be doing all they can to keep the young players’ feet on the floor.

“Myself, Rick (Duncan) and everyone else around them won’t let them get carried away,” said Fagan.

“But to be fair to the lads they aren’t like that.

“For instance this will be the fourth or fifth week Charlie (Kelman) has been in to work on his shooting with myself on his day off before I work with the 23s.

“Other lads will be in doing extra too with Matt Rush and Eren (Kinali) in too.

“Their feet are on the floor and they want to improve, which is how it has to be.”

And Fagan also feels the youngsters are showing the importance of the Shrimpers having an under-23 team.

“This is the reason why the 23s is here,” said Fagan, who came to the club at the start of the season.

“We can’t hide the fact that if the 23s weren’t at this club then there would probably have been two players on the bench.

“It’s here for a reason and we’re producing players.

“But they need to learn as much possible.

“During the week you’re learning and the weekend’s game is the exam.

“You have to cram as much as they can to try and pass the exams but there’s going to be ups and downs.”