FORMER Southend United midfielder Dan Mooney will be back at Roots Hall with Altrincham this weekend.

Mooney left the Shrimpers in mid-December after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

But he will face Blues for the first time since his departure on Saturday and boss Kevin Maher is fully aware of the threats Mooney can pose.

“Dan’s a brilliant lad and he did ever so well for us in periods he played,” said Maher.

“The lads loved him and he’s a very, very good footballer.

“It was stop start here for a period and I think that was the difficulty, he didn’t get a run.

“Sometimes it just happens.

“You can only pick 11 and sometimes someone doesn’t get in and stay in.

“We wanted it for Dan but it didn’t quite work out.

“But once he’s playing and plating regularly we know what a good footballer he is.”

Mooney joined, from Altrincham, in the summer of 2022 and scored three goals in 49 games.

The 24-year-old has made three appearances since returning to Altrincham but has yet to score.