SOUTHEND United’s injury crisis is now so bad that even mascot Sammy the Shrimp is facing a fight to be fit.

Shrimpers boss Chris Powell has been without a number of key players for the majority of the campaign and was missing 10 members of his squad for Saturday’s defeat to Barnsley.

But the curse has now gone beyond the playing squad with mascot Sammy – who is brought to life by the Leigh-based Dave Foxall – struggling with a back problem.

“I’ve had to go and have an MRI scan on my back but everyone I’ve seen about it so far has told me they think it’s a prolapsed disc,” said Foxall.

“I’m not really too sure how I first did it.

“I do a lot of cycling so I think it might have been something to do with that, but it started to get really bad on Christmas Eve.

“I’ve had the sciatic pain down the side of my leg and it’s not gone away.

“I’ve seen a doctor and had painkillers but, unfortunately, it’s so bad at the moment that I’m not even able to sit down.

“But it just seems to some up the way it’s going at the football club this season that even the mascot has got injured.”

Foxall began Sammy the Shrimp duties at the start of the season.

But he is not sure if he may soon be forced onto the sidelines.

“I’ll have to wait to see what the scan shows up and what the consultant advises me to do,” said Foxall.

“If I’m told to rest up then I might have to miss a match or two but hopefully it won’t come to that.

“At the moment, I’m still able to do what’s needed.

“I can walk and wave and still dance with the cheerleaders but trying to actually put the costume on is probably the hardest bit at the moment because there’s a lot of bending and it’s far from straightforward.”

But that has also led to Foxall keeping the costume on for longer.

“I’ve been staying in the costume and standing up in the last couple of games we’ve had,” said Foxall.

“People think it’s because the matches were being shown live on Sky Sports but it was actually because of my back.”

Foxall has been treated by Blues’ physiotherapist Ben Clarkson during his injury lay-off and soon hopes to be back to full fitness.

“It’s been very painful but hopefully now I’ve had the scan everything can be sorted out and I won’t be in as much pain,” he added.

>Sammy the Shrimp can be followed on Twitter @shrimp_sammy