SOUTHEND United centre-back John White is closing in on a return from injury.

The defender has been out of action since suffering ankle ligament damage at Peterborough United at the start of February.

But Blues boss Chris Powell is hoping White will be fit to figure at Blackpool a week on Saturday.

“John is outside running again now,” said Powell.

“Typically of him he’s been one of the first ones in to get on with his work diligently.

“He’s been doing more than what he should do because that’s the type of character he is but that’s what I like to see.

“He wants to be back involved and he influences the people around him with the way he works.

“He won’t be ready for Doncaster and I’ll doubt if he will be ready for Rochdale but there’s a very good chance he could be back for Blackpool.”