SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has rejected interest in Anthony Wordsworth and is keen to utilise the midfielder’s attacking talents more next season.

Wordsworth bagged four goals in 16 starts during an injury hit first season with the Shrimpers.

But Brown is now planning to use the 27-year-old further forward.

“I think Anthony can be a big player for us in a more attacking role next season,” said Brown.

“We’ve had a bit of interest from him in clubs from League Two this summer but he’s under contract and he’s too good to be playing at that level anyway.

“It was only a few years ago he was scoring well into double figures at this level for Colchester and it would be great to get him doing that for us too.

“With Jack Payne moving on we have the capability to move Anthony further forward and I think he could do well there.

“We have other options and there’s competition for that place in the side but Woody is certainly one of the main options for it.”

Wordsworth featured in the centre of the park for the Shrimpers last term but initially struggled to hold down a regular starting slot.

The former Ipswich Town man was then forced to the sidelines for three months with an ankle injury before making a goalscoring return in a 3-0 win against Colchester United, another of Wordsworth’s ex sides.

Wordsworth went on to make eight successive starts before a hamstring injury forced him to miss the last eight games of the season.

However, Brown expects him to be fully fit for the start of pre-season training at the beginning of July.

“I’ve spoken to the physio and Woody is making good progress,” confirmed Brown.

“He should be fully fit for the start of pre-season which is going to be an important few weeks for him.”