So far Steve Tilson has used central defenders Nikola Jozic and Paul Goodacre, left full-back Mark Wright, right-sided midfielder Daniel Woodards and forwards Rawaline Babatunde, Kesie Ibe and Akwasi Edusei in pre-season fixtures, and this midweek clash, hastily arranged by the Blues boss, promises to be last chance saloon for the sextet.
That said, any return to Nigerian striker Babatunde, who reputedly played alongside former Portsmouth front man Yakubu Ayegbeni in his homeland, will be seen an excessively desperate measure from the Shrimpers chief. His place in the squad is unlikely following an extremely poor twenty minutes at Maldon Town a week ago.
Of the six, Serbian Under-21 international Jozic offers the best option for Tilson as he looks to build his threadbare squad past the twenty mark, and he could line up alongside Maldon blocker Goodacre, whose only appearance was as an injury-time substitute against Millwall at Roots Hall. He deserves at last 45 minutes in which to prove himself against a club that he faced in Southern Football League Division One East action last season.
Ex-Tottenham Hotspur trainee Wright was part of the squad that travelled to Grays Athletic for the 3-3 draw at the weekend, but he did not make it onto the pitch in a tempestuous battle. The one-time FA Youth Cup semi-finalist is another man likely to make the move to Roots Hall on at the very least a short-term move as cover for Che Wilson, the only recognised left-back at the club.
Daniel Woodards did his prospects of a contract no harm with his last-gasp equaliser against Conference hopefuls Grays at the weekend, but his reputation as a lightweight attacker in Chelsea’s reserve side look set to let him down. Nonetheless, a place in Blues’ Twos is not totally out of the question.
Up front, Ibe replaced Wayne Gray in the closing stages of the match at the New Recreation Ground on Saturday, and could be handed a start for the second time alongside Edusei, the former Gillingham forward, with Freddy Eastwood and Gray almost certain to sit out the clash ahead of the season’s opener on Saturday at home to Port Vale.
The side is likely to be augmented by fringe players and youth-teamers, who have arranged a further friendly of their own for Boots & Laces on Saturday ahead of the Vale match. As such, goalkeeper Joe Welsh, who a month ago was lining up for Cambridge against Billericay Town, could be awarded a start, with Max Porter, Tommy Byrne and Joe North all likely inclusions.
Southend United squad (possible): Bart Griemink, Joe Welsh; Max Porter, Phil Anderson, Nikola Jozic, Paul Goodacre, Andy Edwards, Kurt Husnu, Mark Wright; Joe North, Jay Smith, Taylor Lang, Daniel Woodards; Tommy Byrne, Kesie Ibe, Akwasi Edusei.
Ground Address: | Boroughs Park, Little Wakering Hall Lane, Great Wakering, Essex. SS3 0HH |
Admission: | Likely to be between £5 and £8 for adults, £3 to £5 concessions |
How to get there (road): | Follow the A13 to Bournes Green, then join the B1017, turning left at Star Lane towards the industrial estate. At the end of the road, turn right into the High Street, and continue just past the Sports Club until you see a sign pointing left towards ‘Great Wakering Rovers FC’. There is a decent-sized car park here. |
| Don’t bother trying to make it direct by bus – the last service 4A leaves at 20:38, although you could walk the half-hour to ASDA in North Shoebury (buses leave at 22:03 and 22:33, as well as 23:03). It’s a longer trek to Shoeburyness station (c2c services at 22:35 or 23:05 back to Southend Central). |
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com