SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has been forced to look elsewhere to bolster his defensive options following an injury to top target Jack Grimmer.

The Fulham full-back was stretchered off against Wycombe Wanderers in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night.

And Brown is now on the look-out for alternative options.

“It was really disappointing to learn of Jack’s injury,” said the Blues boss.

“We had been in talks with Fulham to bring Jack to the football club on loan but it does now seem that we are going to have to look elsewhere which is frustrating.

“I’m keen to get competition for places all over the pitch but, if I’m being honest, we don’t really have that in defence right now.

“Jack would’ve been ideal because he can play all across the back four so I’m disappointed that he got injured.”

Brown admitted to still being interested in Burnley’s Luke O’Neill who spent time on loan with the Shrimpers back in 2014.

However, he does not feel as though any of the club’s youngsters are ready to line up at the back for the first team.

“We had an in house game yesterday and the under 21s still look very young, which of course they are,” said Brown.

“There are some very good prospects there but at this stage I don’t think they are ready to make the step up so we definitely need to bring someone else in.

“Other than the four who started against Brighton we have Adam Barrett along with Ryan Leonard who can fill in there if necessary but that’s really not enough if we want to achieve anything this season.

“We are still interested in Luke O’Neill but that’s an ongoing situation and so are the contract talks with Adam Thompson.”

Thompson, who made 29 appearances last season, is still sidelined with the dislocated shoulder he suffered against Mansfield Town in April but he has yet to agree a new deal with the club.

Echosport understands the Shrimpers are also still keen on signing Nottingham Forest winger Stephen McLaughlin.