Southend United's Paul Sturrock: No Port Vale trip for injured quartet (From Echo)

Southend United's Paul Sturrock: No Port Vale trip for injured quartet

12:07pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Chris Phillips

BLUES boss Paul Sturrock does not expect to have any of his injured players back for this Saturday’s trip to Port Vale.

Centre-back Mark Phillips (broken toe), left-back Chris Barker (Achilles), midfielder Marc Laird (hamstring) and striker Gavin Tomlin (thigh) had been hopeful of making a return.

But Sturrock feels the quartet will not be available to face Vale.

“None of the injured players will be back in time to play against Port Vale,” said Sturrock.

“Gavin and Marc will need to have trained for a couple of days before they come back, and I don’t see that happening this week.

“I’ve already brought Phillips, Barker and Laird back too early, through necessity really, and they’ve ended up having even longer out injured.

“But we won’t be taking any risks with them again and they have to show they’re fit enough to play.”