SOUTHEND United striker Nile Ranger will be hoping to beat Charlton Athletic and the London traffic this weekend.

The Shrimpers striker remains on a 7pm curfew due to the terms of his release from prison last month and, as it stands, will miss Tuesday night’s trip to Shrewsbury Town.

But Blues boss Phil Brown is able to call on Ranger this weekend and is studying ways for the 26-year-old to get back home.

“We need to get Nile from Charlton to Tottenham, where he’s living at the moment, before 7pm so we have to look at ways of making sure that happens because traffic in London at that time is notoriously bad,” said Brown.

“We need to have a look at the rules of her majesty’s service because he might not be able to play on Tuesday.

“But right now we’re only focusing on Saturday and Nile has had a great week in training.

“He had 40 minutes on adrenaline against Rochdale last weekend and he’s thrown his hat in the ring to play tomorrow.

“He looks fresh and he’s told me he’s a changed man, which I’m taking with a pinch of salt at the moment.

“But I have to decide the best way to use him this weekend.

“He’s a big player for us so it’s good to have him available again but we just need to make sure everything is OK with his journey home.”

A trouble free journey back from the Valley should take Ranger 40 minutes but Brown remains determined for Blues to travel back to Essex having secured a return to winning ways.

The Shrimpers have gone six games without a win since beating Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the season but face another tough test tomorrow.

Charlton are currently third in the League One standings having taken 12 points from their opening five games.

But Brown is looking forward to the challenge.

“Charlton are playing some great football but it’s a fantastic place to go and play,” said the 58-year-old.

“They’re a very big club at this level and would have been among the pre-season favourites for promotion.

“I’m sure there will be a good crowd and a really good atmosphere, so it’s an exciting game to go and play in.

“We don’t have anything to fear going there and we’re looking forward to it.”

Blues have drawn their last three League games and are 15th in the table.