SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has admitted the club’s injury troubles could determine who starts on the opening day of the new League One season next weekend.

The Shrimpers finish their pre-season preparations at Cambridge United tomorrow.

But Brown has just 13 senior players available for the game, along with promising 17-year-old midfielder Dru Yearwood.

“It’s getting to the stage where I’m picking my team because of injuries,” said Brown.

“In the first week of pre-season it was about standard of play and fitness levels but now it’s getting picked for me really because of who is out.”

Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth is definitely out of the game this weekend with a hamstring problem while Nile Ranger is not yet ready to feature.

And Brown is unsure whether or not Stephen McLaughlin (ankle), Ben Coker (thigh) and Michael Turner (hamstring) will be fit enough to figure.

“I’m not sure if they will be playing,” said Brown.

“Macca and Cokes both haven’t trained for a week or two and neither has Michael Turner.

“It’s not ideal but all managers will be complaining and there have been some plusses for us too.”

Trialist striker Amadou Ba - who Brown is keen to sign permanently - is again likely to figure this weekend in a game which is being staged to raise money for Cambridge fan Simon Dobbin, who has been left permanently brain damaged after the U’s game with Blues at Roots Hall in March 2015.

And Brown hopes plenty of money will be raised.

“I went to visit Simon after the very unfortunate incident after the game and we’re trying to do everything we can now to try and make it easier for him and his family,” said Brown.