RETURNING Southend United manager Phil Brown will seek the advice of his newly formed backroom team before selecting his starting line-up against Crawley Town on Saturday.

Brown is working closely alongside both Ricky Duncan and Craig Fagan following his return to Roots Hall.

And he will listen carefully to the duo's advice before finalising his side. 

"We had 24 players out on the training ground and that’s a big squad," said Brown.

"When you’re looking to choose an 11 from that the backroom staff will be really important to me.

"I’ve decided to promote Ricky Duncan to assistant manager and Craig Fagan to first team coach.

"They’ve been working at the club for a number of years.

"Their knowledge and awareness is one of great depths.

"I’ve picked a team to play Crawley based on that and the information we have on the opposition."

Crawley head to Roots Hall sitting 14th in the League Two standings.

But Brown is focusing on his own side's display.

"A lot of people say teams with little to play for can be dangerous and I agree with that to a certain extent but we’ve got to focus on ourselves and focus on what we can do, not what we can’t," said Brown.

"We have to focus on the positives and there’s plenty to work with here that can cause a problem to Crawley.

"It will be a tough game of football and I’m looking forward to it because I’ve been missing the dug-out in English football.

"I’ve been out in India for three years and I’ve been away from the game here too long in my opinion.

"Some people might say that will cause me a problem but I don’t think it will.

"I don’t think you forget things after nearly 40 years in the English game and it will all come flooding back in the first couple of minutes I would imagine."

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