Scott Malone; hurt his big toe in training the poor lad
Blues boss Steve Tilson confirmed to www.southendunited.co.uk that full back Scott Malone, on loan for Premiership Wolverhampton Wanderers, was injured on his toe during Thursday morning training, and is a doubt for the relegation six-pointer with Tranmere at Roots Hall this weekend.
Johnny Herd; on call for a start against the Rovers, or maybe not!
This would allow Johnny Herd, only seen on the bench recently and a rare half against Swindon a couple of Saturday's ago, a chance to impress once again. We've certainly missed that long throw!
However, there is the option of going back to the system that brought such a good run going this time last year after the defeat at Leeds.
Centre-back Jean-Yves M'Voto started to look his old self in the second half against the Farmers Monday, so Tilly could look at partnering Pat Baldwin and the powerful Frenchman in the middle of the back four, and moving skipper Adam Barrett to left back.
It worked pretty well in the final third of last season, though M'Voto is no Dervite, Baldwin is arguably safer than Clarkey. As long as there's no return to 5-3-2!
Then again, Scott will probably be fit after all this anyway!
Tilly said: "Scott took a knock to his foot today and had to pull out. We will have to see how he is before the weekend but he's a doubt at the moment."