JO Kuffour says he can't wait to repay Bristol Rovers' fans for their support since his move to the club two months ago.

The pint-sized marksman has started only one league game for the Pirates so far with seven of his outings coming from the bench.

But the 26-year-old Londoner has already become something of a cult hero at the Memorial Stadium, with the crowd responding whenever he makes an appearance.

Though making it clear he is hungry to force his way back on to coach Paul Trollope's teamsheet, Kuffour says he is still delighted with the way his Rovers career has started.

"It's great here and I love it," said Kuffour, a £60,000 signing from Bournemouth during the August transfer window.

"The lads have been great and the fans have been great to me as well whenever I have come on.

"I've heard the reception I get every time I have come on and hopefully I can get a start soon and repay the supporters for the faith they have shown in me. It definitely gives you a lift because it's nice to know you are appreciated."

Rovers have been playing £100,000 summer recruit Darryl Duffy alongside leading scorer Rickie Lambert so far this term and Kuffour's only start came in the 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham last month.

But he says it is good to be at a club where players can not take places for granted.

"Of course there's frustration because as a footballer you want to play from the start and I've not really been used to coming off the bench," he said.

"But I came here knowing we had a good squad and the team has been doing really well recently, so all I can do is wait for my time.

"It's better this way than being at a club where you know you are going to be starting every match because sometimes then you are not on your game 100 per cent.

"But here there is competition for every position and that is always healthy."

Rovers were looking to build on their 2-0 midweek win over Oldham by beating promotion-chasing Southend United at the Memorial Stadium today.

And their next couple of league games are against two of the teams currently in the top three – they travel to Leicester City next weekend before facing Scunthorpe United in Bristol.

"We know we are capable of beating the top teams," said Kuffour. "We went into the Oldham game with a lot of self-belief and it was great to get three points against one of the best sides we have faced this season.

"We have a lot of the top teams coming up – but we are playing like one of the top teams ourselves at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how many points we can get on the board over the next few weeks. We don't fear anybody at the moment.

"The team here is capable of at least a play-off place if we can keep everyone fit and carry on playing how we have been over the last few weeks."

Kuffour signed a three-year deal with the Pirates after leaving the Cherries and is now looking to relocate to the South West.

He said of his move to Bristol Rovers: "I'm staying in a hotel at the moment and have been living out of my car! But I've been to look at a few places so hopefully I can get a house sorted out in a couple of weeks. Once that happens, I think I'll feel completely settled."