SOUTHEND United manager Chris Powell is hopeful Sam Hart will be fit to face Doncaster Rovers tomorrow night.

The on loan Blackburn Rovers left-back was substituted with a knee problem during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic.

But Powell is confident Hart will not be forced onto the sidelines.

“I think Sam will be OK,” said the Blues boss.

“We had to be a bit bright when we went down injured.

“We were already down to 10 men with Dru (Yearwood) being sent off and if Sam goes off we’re down to nine for the set piece they’re about to take.

“They were putting loads of bodies in the box but hopefully Sam will be OK for Tuesday.

“It was just a knock to his knee.”

Powell, who moved Stephen McLaughlin to left-wing back following Hart’s injury, is already short of options on the left hand side of the defence.

Ben Coker (knee) and Harry Kyprianou (Achilles) have both been ruled out for the rest of the season while Powell also fears Stephen Hendrie will miss the remainder of the campaign.

However, fit-again defender Harry Lennon was back on the bench for the Shrimpers at the weekend.

The defender had been out of action since suffering a broken leg against Walsall in October.

But the centre-back was among the substitutes against his former side on Saturday while winger Harry Bunn is also nearing a return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury.

But midfielder Yearwood will now miss the next three games with a suspension.