SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown hopes to have Anthony Wordsworth back in training this week.

The midfielder has missed the Shrimpers’ last three matches with a hamstring problem.

But Brown is confident he will soon be able to return.

“Anthony Wordsworth is making decent progress and he should be back out on the grass again this week,” said Brown.

“We’ll have to see how that goes but he’s certainly the closest to coming back out of all our injured players.”

Noel Hunt (knee), David Mooney (ankle) and Michael Timlin (knee) are all still sidelined.

And Brown is not sure when the trio will be back in action.

“We still hope Michael will be able to play a part in this season but we’re still two weeks from knowing what’s going to happen with him,” said Brown.

“He needed a month’s break for us to have a look at the injury so there is still a little bit of waiting to be done for him.

“Noel has been out on the grass but he’s still suffering some pain with his medial ligament so we don’t know when he will be able to return.

“It’s a similar story with David as well because his ankle is still causing problems.”

Timlin has been forced to miss Blues’ last five matches while Mooney has sat out the last six.

Hunt, who has endured an injury hit first season at Roots Hall, has also missed the last six games and has managed just 14 starts this term.