Southend United's Mark Phillips facing up to more time out after rushed return (From Echo)

Southend United's Mark Phillips facing up to more time out after rushed return

2:00pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND United centre-back Mark Phillips could be heading for another spell on the sidelines with a groin injury.

The 30-year-old defender scored Blues’ goal in a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

But he was later forced to limp off and now feels he may have rushed a return to action.

“To be honest I think I am struggling with my groin still,” said Phillips.

“I don’t think my performance against Aldershot was up to standard but I think my groin is holding me back. “I’m going to have to reassess it and see where I go from here but possibly, in hindsight, it was too soon for me to play again.

“But we are all here to put a shirt on and give it our all.”

Phillips had not started Southend’s previous seven matches after suffering a groin injury at Gillingham in mid-September.

And he was disappointed to return to action with a defeat against struggling Aldershot.

“We didn’t start well with the early goal and it really knocked us back,” said Phillips “The boys’ confidence is apparently quite low and the performance throughout the whole team, including myself, was not up to standard. “It was nice to score but overall it was certainly a night for us to forget.”

As a result, Phillips is now demanding an immediate reaction and return to winning ways when Blues host York City at Roots Hall this weekend. “We approach every game looking for three points but with this bitter taste in our mouth a win on Saturday is even more important now,” he added