Source: FOOTYMAD
JP Kalala: 'I'm available for selection now for Swindon Town which is very pleasing'
There might be problems in the striking department but back in the middle of the park things are looking up with Southend United's JP Kalala putting himself in contention to start Saturday's clash with Swindon Town. Kalala: 'It's been frustrating for me to have to miss the matches' As reported by S24 this morning Shrimpers midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala has returned to training after missing the last three games with a groin injury. Even in the continued absense of Lee Sawyer it does mean that in the engine room at least we have plenty of cover. And JP believes Blues boss, and former manager at Swindon, Paul Sturrock, can place him on the team coach travelling down the M4 full of confidence he can be selected to play. Kalala told www.echo-news.co.uk: “I will be back in full training today and, if that goes OK, then it’s up to the manager when I return. My groin is feeling OK again and I’m available for selection now which is very pleasing because it has been frustrating for me to have to miss the matches.” Last seen at Roots Hall in the horrible 1-0 defeat to Burton Albion JP is not the best at sitting around in the stand! Kalala continued: “When I came here I set myself the target of trying to play every game so to get injured so early on was hard to take. I thought I had been playing quite well too so that made it even more frustrating, especially as I picked up the problem during training. It all appears to be OK now and that will please the physio Ben Clarkson almost as much as me because he must have been fed up with my moaning. I kept on telling him I wanted to be fit and kept on asking when I would be back so I’ve probably been driving him mad.” Good to see you back Jean-Paul, who started before the injury to look like a good signing by Luggy, while his defensive qualities in front of the back four have been missed as the Shrimpers leaked four goals during the games he missed. The Kalala Files Personal information Full name Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala Date of birth 16 February 1982 (1982-02-16) (age 29) Place of birth Lubumbashi, Zaire Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Playing position Midfielder Club information Current club Southend United Number 19 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1999–2003 Nice B 118 (3) 2003–2005 Nice 2 (0) 2005–2006 Grimsby Town 21 (5) 2006–2007 Yeovil Town 38 (1) 2007–2009 Oldham Athletic 20 (0) 2008–2009 → Grimsby Town (loan) 21 (2) 2009–2011 Yeovil Town 49 (1) 2011 Bristol Rovers 11 (0) 2011– Southend United 4 (0) National team‡ 2002-2006 Congo DR 7 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:43, 27 July 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:51, 31 January 2008 (UTC) (Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Paul_Kalala)
