SOUTHEND United midfielder Anthony Wordsworth has been ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.

Wordsworth picked up the problem in training earlier on this week.

And Blues boss Phil Brown has now confirmed the 26-year-old will be out of action until the end of January.

“Anthony has ruptured his ankle ligaments and the bad news is he’s going to be out of action for three months,” said Brown.

“It’s a real blow for him and for us because I just felt as though he was finding his feet with us.

“It was a nothing challenge from Dave Worrall in training which led to the injury and it’s really unfortunate because I would have been looking to start him at Scunthorpe tomorrow.”

Blues take on the Iron in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend.

But they will also be missing midfielder Gary Deegan who will be out of action for at least a fortnight with his own ankle injury.

“Where Gary is concerned he’s going to be out for two to three weeks,” confirmed Brown.

“I think I was the only one in the ground who saw him wince after he went in for a tackle against Rochdale at the weekend and that’s why I took him off.

“He does have a history of ankle problems so we’ve put him on crutches to take the weight off his foot.

“But Gary is a conscientious lad so I’m sure he will be back as soon as he possibly can.”