Jamar Loza hopes to prove how much he has improved after re-joining Southend on loan from Norwich City, with the Shrimpers eyeing a potential permanent deal in the summer.

The 21-year-old returns to the League One side having previously been on loan with the Essex club during the 2013/14 season, scoring once in seven games.

The Jamaica international has made six appearances for City so far, scoring one goal, a memorable injury-time equaliser at Huddersfield which helped keep Alex Neil's team on course for a Championship play-off place.

The clinical finisher has been limited to playing under-21s football so far this season though, scoring seven goals in 12 matches, including five in a 7-2 demolition of Southampton at Carrow Road in November.

Loza also played twice for League Two club Stevenage earlier in the season and has previously also spent time on loan with Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient and Coventry City.

'I'm a much better player now than I was when I was here before,' Loza said after completing his loan switch.

'I'm more experienced now, I've had more games and other loan spells so I want to come here and show what I can do.

'Hopefully I can get a lot of games and a lot of goals during this spell and I can show how I've improved as well.'

The forward will now push to be involved in Tuesday's trip to Shrewsbury Town, as ninth-placed Southend look to close the two-point gap to the League One play-off positions. He could then face City team-mate Jake Kean next Saturday, when the Shrimpers face Colchester, where the goalkeeper is on loan.

'I definitely chose to come back here because of the manager and also because of the boys,' Loza added, speaking to the Southend Echo.

'I enjoyed my time here before and not much has really changed since then. I know a lot of the boys so it was an easy decision to make in the end.

'I'm buzzing to be back and I can't wait to get started in training and in the games as well. I need to be playing first-team football and hopefully I'll get that here.'

Loza signed a new two-year contract with the Canaries in the 2014, with City also retaining the option of a further 12 months.

Southend manager Phil Brown had been considering taking Loza back to Roots Hall on a loan deal during a trial spell in recent weeks and is pleased to secure the deal, with a view to a permanent signing.

'I've worked with Jamar before, he's a likeable guy. He comes in with a smile on his face, trains with a smile on his face and plays with a smile on his face,' the former Hull City boss told his club's website.

'He knows us well, we know him well, we know he's got pace and a eye for goal. He leads the line, he's gets in behind, and he's a threat with his goal prowess.

'We thought it was a no-brainer to bring in Jamar until the end of the season, it provides us an opportunity to know and understand the player even more whilst forming a basis for continuity once the loan period comes to an end with a view to a permanent deal at the end of it.'

See highlights of Loza in action at www.pinkun.com