SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has made five changes to his starting line-up for tonight’s League Cup clash with Newport County.

Young midfielder Dru Yearwood starts in the centre of the park while centre-back Rob Kiernan has been handed his first start since returning to Roots Hall.

Ted Smith replaces Mark Oxley between the sticks while Stephen McLaughlin starts on the left flank in place of Michael Kightly.

The final change comes in attack where Theo Robinson has been preferred to Marc-Antoine Fortune and partners Simon Cox in attack.

Southend United: Smith, Demetriou, White, Kiernan, Hendrie, McGlashan, Leonard, Yearwood, McLaughlin, Cox, Robinson

Substitutes: Oxley, Kyprianou, Kightly, Timlin, Bridge, Ba & Fortune