SOUTHEND United are facing a defensive shortage for tomorrow’s crunch clash at table-topping Wycombe Wanderers.

Blues are definitely without the suspended Adam Thompson, while Ben Coker and Mads Ibenfeldt are both still sidelined by injuries.

But John White now faces a late fitness test after being laid low by an illness this week.

And Echosport also understands the on loan Jakub Sokolik is also a big doubt for the game after suffering a knee injury.

“We’ve gone from having plenty of defensive options to having very few at all,” said Blues boss Phil Brown.

“We won’t have many defenders on the bench, that’s for sure, but hopefully John will be OK to play.

“You can never be too sure with a virus though and he had a bit of a scare earlier on in the week when he seemed to have a lung problem and was finding it hard to breathe properly.

“We went to get him analysed and check out properly and everything came back normal so we’re hoping he will be able to train today and then be OK to play tomorrow.

“But you can never know for a virus because each one tends to be different.”

Blues do have Ryan Leonard fit again after he recovered from a groin injury and he could well line up at right-back if White fails to recover.

The Shrimpers have also been boosted by the return of winger Kevan Hurst who missed the 2-0 win against Northampton Town with a migraine.

But Hurst has since regained full fitness and will now do battle with Myles Weston for a starting slot on the left wing.