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Former Liverpool Danish midfielder Jan Molby is now of course in the hot seat at Hull, having left Kidderminster Harriers in the lerch at the end of March, and with a series of summer signings, the Tigers, who will inevitably field a team consisting of many debutants tomorrow, are once again favourites for the Championship with the 'experts' from the Bookmakers.
Southend however, who have finished victorious on the opening day of the campaign for the last four seasons since relegation to the basement division in 1998, have not lost at Hull since 1968 and will not be surrendering that record too easily.
Of course Rob Newman has some new faces on his own to put on parade, with £10,000 purchase from St Johnstone, Graeme Jones, expected to make his debut in attack along with left sider Neil Jenkins, signed on a one year deal last week following his release from Wimbledon. Newman's other summer signing, winger Danny Maye, looks set for a place on the bench.
Despite a lengthy pre-season schedule, which did see a few injuries, Newman has only one casulty going into the opening day, with 20-year old defender David McSweeney ruled out for the first five weeks of the season having injured a knee in last weekend's friendly defeat against Wimbledon at Boots & Laces. Stephen Broad looks set to deputise.
SOUTHEND (from):- Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Stephen Broad, Damon Searle, Phil Whelan, Leon Cort, Neil Jenkins, Kevin Maher, Ian Selley, Stuart Thurgood, Steven Clark, Danny Maye, Barrington Belgrave, Daniel Webb, Graeme Jones, Tesfaye Bramble, Mark Rawle.
- Meanwhile, whilst Newman's men prepare for the big kick-off, at Roots Hall this evening (Friday), West Ham United beat Dutch side Vitesse Arnham 1-0 in the Out Performance Display Cup, courtesy of a first half Frederick Kanoute strike in front of a 6,000 strong crowd.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com