Southend United could have just 15 fit senior players for Cheltenham Town trip

11:29am Friday 14th September 2012 in Blues By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock could have just 15 senior players to pick from for tomorrow's clash at Cheltenham Town.

Freddy Eastwood, Barry Corr, Ryan Leonard and Luke Prosser will all definitely miss the trip to Whaddon Road, while David Martin faces another late check on an ankle problem.

But Blues boss Paul Sturrock insists his team will battle on despite the difficulties.

“These things happen in football and I remember the time when you had no substitutes at all so you just have to get on with it,” said Sturrock.

“You can only ever three subs no matter how many you have on the bench so we'll be OK and we'll go there in confidence having won our last three matches.”

However, the situation is far from ideal for Sturrock whose 15 fully fit players includeyoung midfielder Alex Woodyard who has only ever started one match and 37-year-old assistant manager Graham Coughlan.

The Irishman has not started a match since last August but could now be handed a recall in to the matchday squad for what Sturrock expects to be a very tough afternoon.

“Cheltenham finished in the play-offs last season and I'm sure they will be up there again this time around too,” said Sturrock.

“But the team spirit here at the moment is fantastic and the shape of the side has been good too so we're looking forward to the test.”

Anthony Straker has been placed on standby to replace Martin on the left wing if he fails his late fitness test but the rest of the team looks set to remain unchanged.

That means Cameron Belford will again be on the bench and Sturrock confirmed the goalkeeper would be returning to Bury when his month long loan spell ends after tomorrow's game.

Southend United (from): Smith, Clohessy, Phillips, Cresswell, Barker, Hurst, Spicer, Timlin, Martin, Tomlin, Assombalonga, Harris, Martin, Coughlan, Benyon, Woodyard & Belford

Comments(4)

Seasider90 says...
12:39pm Fri 14 Sep 12

What happened to the loan players coming in? Presumably we're not paying Moshni or Hall. We might have won the last game but we were lucky Daggers missed two sitters. We need some decent midfielders as without Grant, Ferdinand and Hall our midfield would struggle against a decent Sunday pub team.

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SUFC1906 says...
1:43pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Its likely that Mohsni & Hall are being paid. Mohsni maybe has'nt officially gone on loan to Ipswich & is just a triallist there so they don't pay his wages until an actual loan deal registers. Hall may not have officially gone on loan but may be training at another club so same situation. Unlikely that any loan players could afford to be brought in until these two are moved out. Whilst Mohsni won't help out the club by being available for games until he leaves, it is surprising that Hall may not want to at least play in games until a loan deal happens. After all, shortage of midfield options mean he should be shamed into doing the decent thing as he is being paid to play. He won't encourage other clubs to take him by sitting at home.

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gary 51 says...
11:22pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Once again the porkies come out of Roots Hall, the Jock said before the fixture gainst Dagenham there would be a couple of loan players, has PS spoke to the board,? NO He might have a better chance at Cheltenham Ron may be there doing the players laundry or other laundry.

Anyway going back to money wastage yes Hall and Mohsni are a drag on the wage bill, but what about Harris, Eastwood and Corr sitting on a meal ticket.
If they are not fit and cannot play easy get rid off you cannot have a team with sick lame and lazy

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orsettblue says...
7:22am Sat 15 Sep 12

Surely Hall and Mohsni are contracted to pla for us? motivated or not, they are our players, tell them to play!!
who's making the decisions? let players go, dont get enough in then moan we are short?!?

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