SOUTHEND United will be able to make five substitutions for the first time in their history on Saturday - but boss Mark Molesley does not feel it will help the Shrimpers at this stage.

The bottom of the table Blues host second placed Cambridge United at Roots Hall this weekend.

However, Molesley believes the new rules to enable more players to emerge from the bench will boost teams with bigger squads than Southend.

“It’s going to be an advantage with bigger squads at the moment and it doesn’t quite help us,” said Molesley.

“In the future when more players return to fitness it well help us and hopefully put a better product onto the pitch in the long run.

“It certainly helps to protect the physicality of the players as they’re being asked to play a lot of football in a short space of time.

“But at the moment it doesn’t quite help us immediately.”