Southend United set to run rule over Millwall's Tamika Mkandawire (From Echo)

Southend United set to run rule over Millwall's Tamika Mkandawire

12:15pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in Blues By Chris Phillips

TAMIKA Mkandawire is closing in on a loan switch to Southend United.

The Millwall midfielder watched Blues’ 2-1 defeat against Aldershot Town at Roots Hall on Tuesday night.

And he will train with Paul Sturrock’s side over the next couple of days to enable his fitness levels to be assessed.

“Tamika is a player who has been identified by Paul but he hasn’t played for a while now, so his fitness needs to be checked before any loan deal goes through,” said a source close to the club.

“That’s the only last thing to be checked though because everything else has been agreed.

“He certainly has the qualities to come in and do well in a position where Southend are really lacking at the moment.

“But it just depends if he is fit enough to come in.”

Mkandawire has been sidelined by a thigh injury over the last couple of weeks and has now not played a first team game since November 2011.

He could therefore take time to regain full match sharpness but he is still wanted by Blues, who are short of central midfield players.

Mkandawire was an apprentice at West Bromwich Albion before spending four years with Hereford United where he made 154 appearances and captained the side, before joining Leyton Orient in the summer of 2007.

With the O’s, Mkandawire played 126 games and was then snapped up by Millwall three years later.

After joining the Lions, Mkandawire switched to playing central midfield having previously played in defence.

He was voted player of the year in 2011, but the 29-year-old’s progress has since been halted by injury problems and he will be keen to get his career back on track at Blues — if a move does go through.