SOUTHEND United striker Simeon Akinola has tested positive for coronavirus.

The forward's future remains in doubt after he featured in just one of the six games Phil Brown took charge of at the end of last season.

But it was illness which meant Brown could not call upon Akinola against Great Wakering Rovers on Tuesday night. 

"Sim is another one who has unfortunately gone down with Covid and he tested positive on Monday.

"We’re doing everything we can from an internal point of view to eradicate Covid and my Covid officer is also the chief executive so when he says we aren’t training we aren’t training.

"I have no say in the matter and we’ve had to close the training ground down as a proper training venue for five days and we test every Monday and Thursday."

But winger Ashley Nathaniel-George did not feature against Wakering due to a knee problem.

"Ash has had an operation behind his knee," said Brown.

"I’m waiting for the outcome in the next three or four days.

"It’s a little bit more complicated than we though but fingers crossed everything is OK.