Shrewsbury Town v Southend United – Preview

Steven Clark could return to the starting eleven

One bonus for gaffer Rob Newman is that Stuart Thurgood returns to the squad having served out a three-match suspension over the festive period. The tenacious midfielder could replace Mark Beard in the starting line-up, the former Millwall and Sheffield United right-back having struggled to maintain a high level of performance in the centre of midfield. Club captain Kevin Maher will miss the second match of his two-game ban, whilst Jay Smith is expected to continue through the middle of the park.

Cambridge United winger Tony Scully has returned to the Abbey Stadium after his two-month spell by the Seaside was not extended at the start of last week, so the right wing berth is up for grabs. Former West Ham United Youth player Steven Clark has fully recovered from a slight groin strain, and Newman has thrown down the gauntlet to the youngster to show him what he can do. On-loan Brighton & Hove Albion wide man Danny Marney has just two games left before he is eligable to return to the South Coast, and his inclusion is another possibility. On the left-hand side too, the boss has choices to make. Mark Rawle has been employed out-of-position in that area over the last month, but England Under-20 international Neil Jenkins is still putting pressure on the Leicester-born forward to take over.

Up front, Graeme Jones has picked up a slight knock since his lone striker's role at Carlisle, and is doubtful for the trip. Tes Bramble looks set to return, having enjoyed an enforced rest for the past seven days after the Shrimpers Essex Senior Cup tie at Dagenham & Redbridge was postponed seven days ago. Bramble had been included in the team, and two of his intended team-mates that Tuesday night, Barrington Belgrave and Mark Salter, complete Newman's options, along with Rawle should Jenkins play in midfield. The 4-5-1 formation is yet to register a victory or a clean sheet, so two forwards should be the preferred option.

Defensively, matters appear more settled. Danny Gay is the only fit goalkeeper contracted to the club, so he will continue between the sticks in Darryl Flahavan's six-week absence. Newman has yet to bring an understudy in, but with only trainee shotstoppers filling the Youth team vacancies, the squad travel without a replacement. Stephen Broad is out until March with his hernia problem, but Phil Whelan should have recovered from the knock he picked up in Cumbria to partner Leon Cort in the centre of defence. New signing Daryl Sutch should continue at right-back, despite struggling last week, and Damon Searle may be handed the captain's armband at left full-back. Beard, Dave McSweeney and Tom Jordan are the other defensive players available.

Blues' opponents, meanwhile, will be on top of the world having defeated Premiership Everton in the Third Round of the F.A. Cup last Saturday. Goodison Park old-boy Kevin Ratcliffe must keep his team's heads screwed on in order for his side to climb the table. Last season the Shrews finished outside the play off positions, but they have found it hard to live up to those expectations this time around, and find themselves just a couple of defeats away from the drop zone.

Town have been stunned by the retirement of experienced defender Mick Heathcote after he gave up his fight against an injury to the left-hand base of his spine. On the other hand, they are boosted by the fact that left-sided utility player Alex Smith's loan spell from Reading has been extended by another month. Andy Thompson and Ian Stevens are struggling to be fit having missed out on a reserve game against Stoke when that match was postponed mid-week, but Saturday's cancellation will have boosted their chances of playing. Cup hero Nigel Jemson and young hot-shot Luke Rodgers form, in Rob Newman's eyes, one of the most potent strike partnerships in the country, and are backed up by experienced midfielders Ian Woan and Mark Atkins from midfield. The encounter will be another hard game for United, but one that they must win in order to get their season back on the rails.

LAST MATCHES
Carlisle United 1 (McCarthy 32) Southend United 0. Line-up: Danny Gay; Daryl Sutch (Danny Marney 76), Leon Cort, Phil Whelan (Dave McSweeney 63), Damon Searle; Tony Scully (Tes Bramble 52), Mark Beard, Jay Smith, Steve Tilson, Mark Rawle; Graeme Jones. Subs not used: Steven Clark, Neil Jenkins.

Shrewsbury Town 2 (Jemson 38, 89) Everton 1 (Alexandersson 60). Line-up: Ian Dunbavin; Darren Moss, Alex Smith, Pete Wilding, David Artell; Ryan Lowe (Sam Aiston 85), Mark Atkins, Jamie Tolley, Ian Woan; Luke Rodgers (Steve Jagielka 81), Nigel Jemson (Leon Drysdale 89). Subs not used: Lee Kendall, Matty Redmile.

Neil Jenkins put Blues in front at home to Shrewsbury in August, but will he be given a chance to do so again tomorrow?

OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Pike (Barrow-in-Furness)
Assistant Referee: Mike Haxby (Wirral), Nigel Murphy (Mansfield)
Pike has referred 23 matches already this season, flourishing just 41 yellow cards and only three reds. With a reputation as one of the more leniant officials in the Football League, the Cumbrian has not officiated in a Southend match over the past five years, so he will be a new face to many Shrimpers supporters. One of the more experienced referees in the Third Division, Pike even went through the 1998/9 season without brandishing a single red card. He has been a regular at Gay Meadow and, indeed, Layer Road.