SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is keen to pile more misery on Bury this weekend.

The Shakers have started the season in sluggish fashion despite making a number of big signings during the summer.

And Brown wants his Shrimpers side to add to their problems this weekend.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” said the Blues boss.

“Bury haven’t started the season as well as everyone expected and certainly not as well as they would have expected.

“I believe they have a very large budget, one of the most competitive ones in the division in fact, so you would have expected them to be higher.

“They decided to have a real go at it but they find themselves struggling at the moment so now is the time for us to bring our best game to the table, both defensively and with the ball.”

Bury - who sit 21st in the table - have yet to win away from home in League One season.

But Brown still believes Lee Clark’s side will be tough to beat.

“They are a dangerous team,” said Brown.

“They have Jermaine Beckford up top who is scoring goals for them and I’m sure he will feel he should be playing at a higher level.

“They also have players who can open you up and they’ve found a system they’re happy with.

“They will be well organised and it will be a difficult game but they’re not in a good moment and we need to get back to winning ways.”

And the Shrimpers’ hopes of success have been boosted by the return of Michael Kightly, who has missed the last nine games with a hamstring injury.

“Michael’s been missed in the last four or five weeks and if he’s fully fit he starts, it’s a no brainer,” said Brown.

“We’ve shown we can perform without him but his return will also increase competition for places in the wide areas.”

Brown hopes Kightly’s return will make a big difference as his side look to end a run of three games without a win.

The Shrimpers drew 1-1 with Peterborough United on Tuesday night at the start of a week Brown said could define his side’s season.

But he opted to play down the importance of tomorrow’s clash with the Shakers.

“I don’t think it’s must win,” said Brown, whose team are 15th in the table.

“We’re only 13 or 14 games into the season but you can already tell the division has improved in standard this year.”