Former Wimbledon and England Under-20 star Jenkins pulled up sharply having chased Gillingham right-back Nyron Nosworthy back past the halfway line in Blues narrow 1-0 pre-season friendly defeat last night. The Carshalton-born man had been running at top speed to tackle back, and, as is the nature of such injuries, crumpled to floor, only to be stretchered off a couple of minutes later. Physiotherapist John Stannard has identified the problem to be at the top of the muscle, and this indicates a recovery period of around a month.
However, there was better news to emerge about midfielder Jay Smith. The former Aston Villa man has been given the all-clear by former Dagenham & Redbridge and Barnet physio Stannard to restart training with the first-team. He was taking part in some light exercise at Meet The Blues Day whilst the main squad underwent rigorous exercise, and he will now start more heavy work, with a view to playing competitive football again at the beginning of October.
There was further good news for Southend fans this afternoon as manager Steve Wignall revealed that he had offered a contract to midfield dynamo Leke Odunsi. The ex-Millwall central-based player was a terrier in the middle of the field in the Gills defeat, following a lacklustre first-half performance a week earlier against the Kent side’s fellow First Division opponents Ipswich Town. It is yet to be known whether the Walworth-born player will agree.
And Wignall has also offered deals to two further trialists this afternoon. He told the club’s official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, that, “I have already seen Leke Odunsi and I am seeing the other two players this afternoon so hopefully they will accept the offers made. I think there is a lot of talent within the squad now and there are a lot of assets on the pitch”. He continue to add in reaction to the tight loss, “In general I am impressed with the trialists’ performance [although] you cannot get carried away because when you are on trial you strain every muscle and try your best”. BBC Essex have revealed that the other two men are forward Michael Husbands, who was the man-of-the-match against Gillingham, and defender Che Wilson, who is expected to provide defensive cover for the back four. Ryan Robinson, Leon Constantine and Carl Griffiths may all now play a part against Canvey Island on Saturday to determine whether they too are handed contract offers.
Robert Craven