SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown hopes midfielder Anthony Wordsworth will be able to rediscover his best form after the culmination of his court case.

The 29-year-old midfielder was sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer.

Wordsworth must also pay £200 in compensation to the officer as well as £167 in fines and costs after the incident, which took place on the team’s Christmas party in Cardiff at the start of December.

But, now the situation has been dealt with, Brown wants to see Wordsworth shining for the Shrimpers after suffering a dip in his form.

“This has been hanging over Anthony Wordsworth’s head for a couple of weeks now and I think that’s shown a little bit in his game to be honest,” said Brown.

“On Monday he played at AFC Wimbledon facing a court case on the Tuesday and that was probably playing on his mind, hence the reason why he wasn’t at his best.

“But I’m hoping now it’s on the way behind him that Woody will step up to the plate, starting with the game at Northampton tomorrow.”