SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown could be about to rekindle his interest in Northampton Town midfielder John-Joe O’Toole.

The 26-year-old has been made available by the Cobblers.

And Brown, who has failed in two previous swoops for O’Toole, is again interested in bringing him to Roots Hall.

“I’m still disappointed not to have already brought John-Joe in and I would certainly be interested in bringing him in because he’s a goalscorer and we don’t have an abundance of them in our squad,” said the Blues boss.

“When I tried to sign him the first time he went to Bristol Rovers and they got relegated while in the summer he chose to go to Northampton.

“He finds himself in the wrong half of the table with them as well and it hasn’t gone too well for him there.”

Brown is keen to bolster his attacking options as his side have scored just 17 goals in their 17 league games so far this season.

Just five sides in League Two have scored fewer but while Brown has yet to make a move for the Irishman, he has twice been to see him play in the last week.

“We have Northampton coming up so we went to watch them at Leyton Orient last Tuesday and at Cambridge last Friday.

“John-Joe was involved in both of those matches so we’re well aware of his talents.”