3:20am Tuesday 1st December 2009
By Chris Phillips
STEVE Tilson knows the Shrimpers could be facing their toughest test of the season so far when they host Norwich City tonight.
The club’s chief scout has told the Blues boss that the Canaries are the strongest side he has seen in League One this year.
And Tilson is therefore expecting one of the hardest games of the whole campaign at Roots Hall this evening.
“Our scout’s report didn’t make for nice reading because it said Norwich were the best team he had seen all season,” confirmed Tilson.
“It’s something I was probably expecting because they have been in really good form of late in the league and we know that we are going to be in for a very hard game.”
Southend, who sit 11th in the table, are certainly up for the challenge though and Tilson is expected to hand three players their home debuts.
On loan defenders Sean Morrison and Scott Malone look set to figure for the first time at Roots Hall while new signing Jabo Ibehre could get the nod in attack.
The attacker joined on loan last week from MK Dons and Tilson has admitted he sees Ibehre as a striker, not a right winger.
“I’ve only ever seen him play as a forward and that’s what he is,” said the 43-year-old.
“That’s where he will play for us and he’s someone who is a nuisance for teams to play against so hopefully he can do well for us while he’s here.”
Blues will be without winger Francis Laurent who injured his hamstring against Tranmere Rovers last Tuesday and he is expected to be replaced on the right-hand side by Damian Scannell.
Laurent has recovered quicker than expected from his injury and he should be fit for Saturday’s trip to Charlton Athletic.
But tonight he will be joined on the sidelines by suspended midfielder Anthony Grant plus the injured Johnny Herd (hamstring) and Jean Yves M’Voto (hip).
Osei Sankofa is still also absent with a knee injury but he resumed light team training yesterday.
Southend will also again be unable to name second choice goalkeeper Ian Joyce in their squad because of an agreement made with the Football League when signing Morrison on loan from Swindon Town.
That means youth team shot-stopper Dan Bentley will be on the bench.
Southend United (from): Mildenhall, Francis, Morrison, Barrett, Malone, Scannell, McCormack, Christophe, Moussa, Barnard, Ibehre, Freedman, Walker, Bentley, Asante and O’Keefe.
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