SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown will be taking a 24 man squad to Barrow this weekend and hopes to have a trio of key players available.

Timothee Dieng, Ricky Holmes and Nathan Ferguson all went off injured against Leyton Orient last time out.

But Brown believes they could all be fit enough to feature against Barrow tomorrow.

"Dieng has done a lot of fitness work this week," said Brown.

"He’s not really trained with the first team but he will be on the coach and so is Ferguson which is a pleasant suprirse.

"He felt his calf during the game and thought he had strained it.

"But in hindsight it’s an awareness of it.

"He ran on the training ground yesterday and he will be travelling."

And Holmes will also be among those heading to the game. 

"Ricky Holmes will be another one on the coach," said Brown.

"He’s travelling and he cannot stand that physio room.

"It’s nothing to do with the people working in there it’s just a horrible place for him to be and he’s been in there all week.

"His ankle is like something I’ve never seen before, it’s black ane blue.

"He’s desperate to play and be on that coach, even though it’s six and half hours away.

"That’s the attitude and mentality we want.

"He’s a local boy and it’s another reason to wear the shirt with pride.

"He’s the type you can build your foundations on not the ones who just want to play the beautiful game."

And Brown is keen to see more of that fighting spirit. 

"When I came to the club there were people, I don't want to say hiding in the treatment room, but you’ve got to be prepared to play through the pain barrier and drive yourself through tough situations and out the other side," said Brown.

"If you’re not like that then you’re not the type of player I want at the football club.

"I’ve seen enough here to say this team should be middle of the table but because of that treatment room it’s probably the reason why we’re not.

"If you can think you can limp you’re way into the treatment room all week and then expect to play on the Saturday it’s not happening in my time at the club, whether I’m manager here or not next season."

But Brown will be taking a large squad this weekend. 

"We're taking 24 to the game and I want that kind of togetherness, "said Brown.

"They’ve been through it all, all season.

"Jason Demetriou has asked to come and the same with Alan McCormack.

"They’re two who are traveling that can’t play unfortunately."

McCormack misses out with a calf problem while Demetriou is still suspended after being sent off at Colchester United.

Blues will also again be without Nathan Ralph (knee), Tom Clifford (thigh), Harry Lennon (knee), Lewis Gard (knee) and Nile Ranger (groin).