Echo:

STEPHEN Hendrie is back in first team reckoning at Southend United.

The left-back spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell.

But the 23-year-old is now back with Blues and has impressed manager Chris Powell with his attitude during pre-season.

“Stephen has come back and he’s looked tidy in pre-season,” said Powell.

“Ben Coker was injured last season and I didn’t want us to be short.

“Nobody has really made an enquiry for him as such and his attitude has been first class too.

“He did well in the game against Aberdeen and his defensive work was good and so was the timing of his runs.

“He did well at left wing-back against Great Wakering Rovers at the weekend and it was a good performance here too.

“He will come into the reckoning unless we see something which suits both parties.

“But at the moment he’s with us and I quite like what I see.”

Hendrie - who spent a short spell on loan with the Shrimpers in 2016 - returned on a permanent basis last summer but struggled to nail down a regular starting slot.

The 23-year-old made just eight League starts for Blues before deciding to spend the second half of the season on loan at Motherwell.

However, Hendrie made just four starts while back in Scotland after making the switch in January, shortly after Powell’s appointment.

“I had just come in and Stephen expressed a wish to go and play regularly,” said Powell.

“I asked him to give himself a chance here but he wanted to play.

“It didn’t really work out for him but he’s still our player.”

>Blues are on the lookout for new matchday ticket office assistants. For more details, contact tickets@southend-united.co.uk.