Former Derry City winger Stephen McLaughlin impressing at Southend

Former Derry City player Stephen McLaughlin is certainly making a name for himself with Southend United – where he is currently joint top scorer this season.

He was involved in the first game of this season’s Emirtates FA Cup First Round last Friday.

The popular Donegal born winger was on the Southend side that lost out to Millwall who scored three minutes from the end to win the tie at The Den.

McLaughlin, who joined Southend in 2015, was the Shrimpers’ Player of the Month in August.

The club lies 16th in the highly competitive 24-team Sky Bet League One, but are just four points off the play-off positions.

In their last home league game they drew 1-1 with Shrewsbury in front of over 7,000 fans at Roots Hall, with McLaughlin getting the equaliser with his fifth goal of the season.

“It’s always good to get a goal to help the team,” he told the club’s website, expressing confidence that they can climb up the league table.

On Tuesday night, though, Southend lost 4-0 to Stevenage in the Checkatrade Cup group game.

The Blues had already qualified for the Round of 32 but will be drawn away as a result of not topping the group.

While the league is the priority, Manager Phil Brown, once of Hull City fame, commented: "A competition that you can get to Wembley in should never be snubbed or sneered at.”

The 2016–17 Checkatrade Trophy was formerly known as the Football League Trophy.

It is played as a knock-out tournament for clubs in League One and League Two of the English Football League and for the first time has expanded to include 16 Premier League and Championship "B Teams" with Category One status as part of a trial.