FORMER Southend United striker Lee Bradbury returns to Roots Hall tomorrow with nothing but praise for his old manager Steve Tilson and his team.

The front runner scored six goals in 52 games for Blues and holds happy memories of his spell with the club.

"I had good times at Southend, I enjoyed it," Bradbury said. "But it was just too far away and a lot of travelling.

"The manager was brilliant and understood I had family commitments at home and couldn't be away four nights a week, so he let me go to a club closer to home, Bournemouth."

Bradbury added he expected Southend's danger to come from midfielders Nicky Bailey, Alan McCormack and Mark Gower.

And he believes that Tilson's troops should be challenging for the play-offs.

Bradbury will be joined back at Blues by the club's ex-boss Rob Newman who is now assistant manager at the Cherries.

Newman and Kevin Bond will be without the suspended Shaun Cooper after he was sent off during Bournemouth's 2-0 midweek defeat to Doncaster at Dean Court.

Bournemouth are currently 23rd in the table after being docked 10 points for entering administration.

Bournemouth (from): Stewart, Gowling, Perrett, Cummings, Gradel, Pearce, Bartley, Kuffour, Pitman, Bradbury, Tessem Vokes, Pryce, Partingdon, McQuoid and Hollands.