Shrimpers striker signs first pro deal: 'I think the team could give it a real go for promotion'

Last updated : 07 June 2011 By westfield shrimper
Asante: Accepts Shrimpers pro contract
Kyle Asante: 'I want to repay them by having a good season'
 
Shrimpers striker Kyle Asante, has signed a one-year contract for the Essex boys, with an option of a further season.
 
Blues boss Paul Sturrock will be hoping this makes it another piece of the jigsaw that will lead to a promotion push next time around, with two or three faces to give everyone a boost.
 
Asante made nine appearances for the Shrimpers over the last campaign having regained fitness, scoring once in the 2-1 defeat at Stockport County.
 

Young Kyle only returned to action for the Shrimpers seconds in February having torn his cruciate ligament while playing for the reserves 12 months previously, and he immediately caught the eye with a hat-trick against the Hatters second string in his first game back!

After signing his first pro deal the 20-year-old was obviously a happy lad.

Asante told www.southendunited.co.uk: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have completed this deal. It has been a long time coming as I was due to sign pro before my injury but thankfully I have finally managed to do so. I'd like to thank the club for sticking by me and making this happen as it was the only thing that kept me going. Now I want to repay them by having a good season as I think the team could give it a real good go for promotion this year."

Good to hear, however Kyle is obviously concerned that he makes an impact in the senior squad for the campaign starting in August.

He continued: "That was great when I got into the first team and started to play a bit. I want more of that this season now but I know I will have to impress the manager to get in his thinking. I am going to go away for a couple of weeks with friends but I will be ready to go for pre-season at the start of July."

Meanwhile, Luggy is pleased that another of Ricky Duncan's successful under-18 side has earned promotion.

Sturrock said: "Kyle has worked hard to get back to full fittness from a very damaging injury. He needed to prove that he was capable of playing professional football after such a bad problem. He played towards the end of the season and he has some pace about him which is a little different to what our other forwards offer. Hopefully with this years contract he can improve and try to establish himself."

As we all hope so, good luck Kyle for 2011/12.

Hat-trick against the Hatters: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/sngl/ed91/

To hell & back with the Blues: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

First goal for the first team: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

The Asante Files

Personal information
Full name Kyle Emmanuel K. Asante[1]
Date of birth 9 April 1991 (1991-04-09) (age 20)
Place of birth Chelmsford, England
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current club Southend United
Number 28
Youth career
0000–2008 Southend United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008– Southend United 9 (1)
2008 → Harlow Town (loan) 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:47, 10 November 2009 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Asante)