SOUTHEND United left-back Nathan Ralph will face a late fitness check ahead of Saturday'strip to Wycombe Wanderers.

The 26-year-old went off with a hamstring problem during Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Peterborough United at Roots Hall.

But Blues boss Kevin Bond has not ruled out the defender making an appearance at Adams Park.

“If you asked me when Nathan came off I would have 100 per cent certain thought he wasn’t playing on Saturday but for him to have a squeak of a chance of playing was a surprise to hear,” said Bond.

“But Nathan is still feeling a slight twinge in the bottom of his hamstring.

“That’s why he came off and we’re still assessing him now.

“I don’t expect him to be training and it’s going to be a tight one but if he doesn’t play and I play Andre (Blackman) then I wouldn’t have a worry in the world about it.”

However, striker Simon Cox is definitely expected to play despite going down with a knee problem against Peterborough.

“Simon was a lot better this morning,” said Bond.

“I think we all feared it was going to be bad when he hyper-extended his knee and went down.

“But he felt a lot better this morning.”