SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is sweating on the fitness of striker Noel Hunt after the Irishman missed last night’s clash at Doncaster Rovers with a heel problem.

Hunt trained at the start of the week and had been hopeful of returning to action at the Keepmoat Stadium.

But the 32-year-old summer signing suffered a reoccurrence of the injury which again forced him to the sidelines.

“It’s a niggling heel injury for Noel and it’s one that’s struggling to go away unfortunately,” said Brown.

“Noel is a key player for us and it’s important we get him fit and ready for action again.

“He trained Monday and Tuesday and that really gave me some hope that he would be fine to play against Doncaster.

“But disappointingly he’s had a reoccurrence of the injury and has some pain in there again.

“He’s had injection in it before but we don’t want to be doing it again so early on in the season.

“It’s going to be a matter of time and we have to be patient.

“He’s still able to work on his fitness, it’s just the match sharpness he’s missing right now.

“But when he’s right will have a player on his hands.”

Hunt came off the bench on the opening day of the season at Fleetwood Town before starting against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Capital One Cup.

However, Hunt picked up the injury while in action against the Seagulls and has now missed Blues’ last two matches.