SOUTHEND United have completed the signing of striker Sam Dalby.

Brown watched the 21-year-old in action on Saturday.

And the Blues boss believes the former Leyton Orient forward could become the club's next Barry Corr. 

"He's got a look of a young Barry Corr,” said Brown.

"He’s a big, strong, six foot two, six foot three, hold up player who is decent in the air which is going to be a bonus in both boxes.

"We’ve tracked him, it’s got to be said, since the day Orient beat us 6-0 in the FA Youth Cup back in my first spell as manager of Southend United.

"We wanted to put a bid in for him then so we’ve been tracking his progress."

Dalby joined Leeds from Orient in 2018 before spending time on loan with Morecambe.

The forward joined Watford in 2019 and was on loan with both Stockport and Woking before being snapped up by Blues. 

And Brown is now keen to bring the best out of the striker. 

"We want him to play the kind of football he has been for the under 18s and under 23 sides he’s been at, with us at adult level in the real world as it were," said Brown.

"That’s our biggest challenge but he’s got fantastic talent and we’ve just got to get it out.

"We’ve signed a lot of experienced players in their 30’s, and we’re now getting somebody who I think has got absolute resale value if we can work this project for the next two or three years.

"He could be a pinnacle figurehead in the strike-force."