SOUTHEND United’s fit again midfielder Michael Timlin must wait another week to make his comeback after today’s scheduled friendly at Watford was cancelled.

Timlin, who dislocated his elbow in a pre-season friendly at Tottenham Hotspur in July, was set to play for at least an hour against the Hornets at Vicarage Road.

But a change in management at the Championship club has led to the game being called off.

And Timlin is gutted his return will now not take place until next Tuesday when Blues’ development side take on Dagenham & Redbridge.

“It’s extremely frustrating for me because I’ve had the Watford game to look forward to for quite some time now,” said the 29-year-old.

“It was going to be at their actual stadium against their full strength side and the manager had said we were going to put out a strong team as well so it would have been a good game to come back in for.

“It would have been a real test and I’m gutted I’m going to have to wait for another week now.”

Timlin will instead continue to work hard in training.

And his mood has at least been lifted by knowing he is now ready to make a return to action.

“Being fit again to play is the main positive but it seems to have taken ages for me to get to this stage,” said the former Swindon Town midfielder.

“For other people it might have gone quite quickly but for me it’s really dragged on.

“But my elbow feels good, if anything it’s now making my other one seem weak, but I know I’m ready to return and I will just have to wait for the Dagenham game now.”

After that, Timlin will attempt to work his way back in to the first team.

However, with Jack Payne, Conor Clifford, Will Atkinson, Gary Deegan and Ryan Leonard also pushing for selection, he knows it will not be an easy task.

“There’s competition for places but that’s how it should be,” said Timlin.

“We all have our own aims but ultimately we all want to win automatic promotion this season and having so many options can only help us with that in my opinion.”