With 17 players signed in under a month it's no wonder that Blues boss Paul Sturrock is not certain what he's best eleven is!

However, Luggy has dropped a big hint that centre-back Bilel Mohsni could make his debut against Port Vale after receiving international clearance this week along with midfielder Adam Bouzid, and with both playing a full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw for Blues Two's against Oxford.

Paul told www.southendunited.co.uk: "Mohsni has already had a test for us in the pre-season friendlies and came through them with flying colours. He was outstanding for the reserves on Wednesday night and he is in my thoughts for Saturday."

Though having recovered from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season defender Peter Gilbert, having also played for the reserves at centre-half, will not be considered as it's not felt he's fully fit yet.

Unlucky for Luke Prosser against his old club, but he looked the most tired at Aldershot of those taking part in extra-time against Bristol City the previous Tuesday and I would give the French Tunisian the nod, but not the other one, who I'd put on the bench.

Zaaboub in for Soares, Paterson in for son of Sturrock, and then I'll be happy!

Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Prosser, Barker, Grant, Easton, Simpson, Zaaboub, Paterson, Corr.

Subs: Evans, Coughlan, Herd, Hall, Sturrock, Sturrock, Spencer.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!

OPPOSITION

Port Vale have called youth team keeper Sam Johnson into their squad after usual bench warmer Chris Martin went down with a stomach bug.

The 17-year old will provide back-up to starting shot stopper Stuart Tomlinson at Roots Hall.

The Valiants will have to change their starting eleven for the first time this season as midfielder Doug Loft will definitely miss the trip to south east Essex after suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung against Chesterfield last weekend.

A major doubt is striker Marc Richards who opened the scoring against in last Saturday's 1-1 draw but left the match in the second half with knee and ankle injuries.

You can catch the highlights from the game with the Spirerites here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8916061.stm

Port Vale manager Micky Adams must now decide whether to stick with a 4-4-2 formation or revert to the 3-5-2 system which impressively overcame QPR in the Carling Cup, where they face Fulham at Craven Cottage in midweek in the second round.

However, Adams says he may leave the club if New-York based businessman Mike Newton's proposed takeover of Port Vale is successful, as he's promised to run the Valiants' youth team independently from the first team, and the former Fulham and Brighton boss is having none of it!

Adams told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm responsible for all footballing matters. That includes the youth department. If Mike Newton decides to come in and scrap that, then I would have to look at my position."

Ohh err. Anyway, it seems they even have their own consourtium in the running as well, though when the Vale board meet next Thursday they will vote on Newton's formal offer to become majority shareholder and pump in £500k, which he believes the Burslem based club needs to avoid administration.

Present chairman Bratt also spoke to local radio: "Now we've got the actual document and can look at it we can sort it out. I'm ready to hand over the reins because of various reasons but we need to ensure that the club survives for the future."

Newton himself has no plans to go away.

He said: "I don't care what the chairman says about the cash flow position, the club needs more cash and it needs new ideas. I'm not going away, the directors have to be accountable. I will assess what the fans are saying, what people want me to do and then move from there. There are a couple of things up my sleeve. I believe that my solution of cash plus expertise plus radical reform is the best way ahead for the Vale."

Exciting stuff from Robbie Williams favourite club, now if he was in the running!!

STOP PRESS: Following the Southend example with their takeover bid the Port Vale board announced they had turned down Mr. Newton's offer, full story here:
www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2129684,00.html

Both of the Valiants victories have been away from home, including a 1-0 win over Bury on the opening Saturday.

After a couple of weeks Port Vale are in a gang of four in League Two.

3	Wycombe Wanderers	2		1	0	0	2	0		0	1	0	0	0		1	1	0	2	0		4	+2
4	Cheltenham Town	2		1	0	0	3	2		0	1	0	1	1		1	1	0	4	3		4	+1
5	Chesterfield	2		1	0	0	2	1		0	1	0	1	1		1	1	0	3	2		4	+1
6	Port Vale	2		0	1	0	1	1		1	0	0	1	0		1	1	0	2	1		4	+1
7	Rotherham United	2		1	0	0	2	1		0	1	0	0	0		1	1	0	2	1		4	+1
8	Aldershot Town	2		1	0	0	1	0		0	1	0	0	0		1	1	0	1	0		4	+1
9	Hereford United	2		0	1	0	0	0		1	0	0	1	0		1	1	0	1	0		4	+1

PREVIOUSLY

At Southend Utd. (35) At Port Vale (35) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 13 37.14 Port Vale 19 54.29 Port Vale 4 11.43 Southend Utd. 6 17.14 Draws 18 51.43 Draws 10 28.57 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 55 1.57 Port Vale 70 2.00 Port Vale 35 1.00 Southend Utd. 32 0.91 On Neutral Ground (0) Overall (70 matches) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 19 27.14 Port Vale 0 0.00 Port Vale 23 32.86 Draws 0 0.00 Draws 28 40.00 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 87 1.24 Port Vale 0 0.00 Port Vale 105 1.50

Records Highest Aggregate 6 Southend Utd. 3 - 3 Port Vale 1987/1988 Highest Southend Utd. score: 5 Southend Utd. 5 - 0 Port Vale 1972/1973 Highest Port Vale score: 5 Port Vale 5 - 0 Southend Utd. 1994/1995

Season Date Home Score Away Competition 2007/2008 Sat 03 May Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale League One Sat 29 Sep Port Vale 1 - 2 Southend Utd. League One 2005/2006 Sat 26 Nov Port Vale 2 - 1 Southend Utd. League One Sat 06 Aug Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Port Vale League One 1996/1997 Sat 25 Jan Port Vale 2 - 1 Southend Utd. League Division One Sat 21 Sep Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Port Vale League Division One 1995/1996 Sat 09 Mar Port Vale 2 - 1 Southend Utd. League Division One Wed 20 Dec Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale League Division One 1994/1995 Sat 28 Jan Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Port Vale League Division One Sat 05 Nov Port Vale 5 - 0 Southend Utd. League Division One 1991/1992 Wed 15 Apr Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Port Vale Second Division Sat 21 Sep Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Second Division 1988/1989 Sat 06 May Port Vale 2 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Fri 02 Dec Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division 1987/1988 Fri 22 Jan Southend Utd. 3 - 3 Port Vale Third Division Mon 14 Sep Port Vale 4 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division 1985/1986 Mon 05 May Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division Sat 19 Oct Port Vale 4 - 0 Southend Utd. Fourth Division 1984/1985 Fri 29 Mar Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division Mon 05 Nov Port Vale 4 - 1 Southend Utd. Fourth Division 1983/1984 Mon 19 Mar Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Port Vale Third Division Mon 30 Jan Port Vale 2 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division 1980/1981 Mon 10 Nov Port Vale 1 - 0 Southend Utd. Fourth Division Mon 18 Aug Southend Utd. 5 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division 1975/1976 Mon 09 Feb Port Vale 1 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 13 Sep Southend Utd. 3 - 3 Port Vale Third Division 1974/1975 Tue 01 Apr Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 28 Dec Southend Utd. 1 - 3 Port Vale Third Division 1973/1974 Sat 09 Feb Southend Utd. 1 - 0 Port Vale Third Division Sat 22 Sep Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division 1972/1973 Fri 20 Apr Southend Utd. 5 - 0 Port Vale Third Division Sat 30 Sep Port Vale 3 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division 1969/1970 Mon 23 Feb Port Vale 3 - 0 Southend Utd. Fourth Division Mon 29 Sep Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division 1968/1969 Mon 24 Feb Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division Mon 04 Nov Port Vale 1 - 1 Southend Utd. Fourth Division 1967/1968 Fri 15 Dec Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division Sat 19 Aug Port Vale 1 - 2 Southend Utd. Fourth Division 1966/1967 Sat 04 Mar Port Vale 1 - 3 Southend Utd. Fourth Division Fri 14 Oct Southend Utd. 4 - 1 Port Vale Fourth Division 1964/1965 Fri 26 Mar Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale Third Division Fri 08 Jan Port Vale 2 - 2 Southend Utd. Third Division 1963/1964 Sat 22 Feb Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division Sat 12 Oct Port Vale 4 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Wed 25 Sep Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale League Cup 1962/1963 Mon 24 Sep Port Vale 5 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division Mon 17 Sep Southend Utd. 2 - 0 Port Vale Third Division 1961/1962 Mon 16 Oct Southend Utd. 4 - 1 Port Vale Third Division Mon 04 Sep Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division 1960/1961 Sat 21 Jan Port Vale 4 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division Sat 10 Sep Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale Third Division 1959/1960 Mon 22 Feb Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Port Vale Third Division Sat 03 Oct Port Vale 3 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division 1957/1958 Sat 15 Feb Port Vale 1 - 3 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) Sat 05 Oct Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division (South) 1951/1952 Mon 27 Aug Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) Tue 21 Aug Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Port Vale Third Division (South) 1950/1951 Sat 21 Apr Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division (South) Sat 02 Dec Port Vale 3 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) 1949/1950 Mon 29 Aug Port Vale 0 - 0 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) Tue 23 Aug Southend Utd. 1 - 0 Port Vale Third Division (South) 1948/1949 Sat 22 Jan Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Port Vale Third Division (South) Sat 11 Sep Port Vale 0 - 2 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) 1947/1948 Sat 21 Feb Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division (South) Sat 04 Oct Port Vale 2 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) 1946/1947 Sat 31 May Port Vale 5 - 1 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) Sat 19 Apr Southend Utd. 1 - 1 Port Vale Third Division (South) 1938/1939 Sat 22 Apr Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Port Vale Third Division (South) Sat 17 Dec Port Vale 2 - 2 Southend Utd. Third Division (South) Sat 10 Dec Port Vale 0 - 1 Southend Utd. F.A. Cup

REF