SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown hopes to have both Kevan Hurst and Barry Corr available for Saturday’s trip to Oxford United.

Hurst has missed the Shrimpers’ last three games with a hamstring injury he sustained during the 1-0 win at Cambridge United on Boxing Day while Corr missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Plymouth with a back problem.

But the duo are expected to return to training later in the week.

And Brown would love to have them available to take on the U’s.

“Kevan and Barry should both be back in training in Thursday and will hopefully suffer no complications this time,” said the Blues boss.

“They actually both returned to training last week but suffered slight setbacks which kept them out of the Plymouth game at the weekend.

“I thought we missed their experience in the final third if I’m honest but hopefully there will be no so problems for them this time.

“They’re still on the treatment table at the moment but if everything goes to plan they will be back for the Oxford game and that would give us a real boost.”

Winger Hurst has scored just once in 15 games so far this season but seemed to be coming back in to the form during the Cambridge game before he sustained the injury in the closing stages of the game.

Corr is currently Blues’ second highest scorer with five goals this term.