SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson has missed out on signing another striker on loan.

The Blues boss had been keen to bolster his injury-hit forward line ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Walsall at Roots Hall.

But he has been left disappointed after suffering a second knock-back of the week in the transfer market.

“Both of the players turned us down because they didn’t want to move down to this area of the country,” confirmed Tilson.

“It’s frustrating because not many players become available who could actually better the team but this week we had two and neither of them wanted to come.

“We do have injury problems in attack which makes it even more frustrating but right now we do have three available and that’s probably the most we’ve had in a few weeks now.”

Tilson refused to publicly reveal the strikers he was chasing but one was a proven goalscorer currently out of favour a Championship club, while the other is at a northern based League One club.

However, the Seasiders chief has been boosted by the return of Lee Barnard from suspension for the showdown with the Saddlers.

He missed Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Millwall with a one match ban but will return to the squad and Tilson wants the forward to carry on from where he left off at Peterborough United last weekend.

“Barney did well there and will go straight back into the squad,” said Tilson whose side are currently 13th in the League One table, one point and two places below Walsall.

“He looked sharper and we want to see him like again.”

Francis Laurent and Theo Robinson are Blues other fit strikers with Dougie Freedman again ruled out with a thigh strain.

James Walker is also absent with a hamstring problem he aggravated again in the reserves at Colchester United on Wednesday and Tilson knows his team are in for a real test against the in-form Saddlers “Walsall are six unbeaten and have won three of their last four so it’s probably the hardest game we could be facing right now,” he said.

“They are second in the form guide but we’re third and have also been doing well lately.

“Performance wise we did well against Millwall in the week and before that we had won five out of six.

“We want to get back to winning ways immediately but we have to convert the chances that come our way.

“We didn’t do that on Tuesday and it cost us the game.”