Defender Bilel Moshni is set to play up front for Southend when the Bulls visit on Saturday.
Shrimpers boss Paul Sturrock has little choice with only Neil Harris fully fit of the four strikers he chooses to have at his disposal. With Matt Patterson frozen out of Roots Hall, both Barry Corr and Blair Sturrock are injured while Liam Dickinson is nowhere near match fitness. Sturrock said of the former Stockport man, after his 60 minute appearance against Canvey Island at the weekend: “I think that was the first game Liam has had in three months and it showed he wasn't fit.”
Moshni, a 6ft 3in central defender, crashed headers off the crossbar while playing upfront alongside veteran Neil Harris in games against Norwich and Ipswich in pre-season, and scored three times in four matches while pressed into emergency attacking duties last season. But the French-Tunisian admitted he has a temper problem that saw him sent off twice last season, telling the Echo:
“The manager has spoken to me about this but when players are stupid it's hard for me to stay calm. If you're better than me and you win every header and tackle against me then fair play. But there's no need to try and injure me to make it happen. That's what annoys me and it seems that every team has this one stupid player. That gets to me but I know I have to stay calm because teams will start to target me.”
Sturrock is unlikely to make further signings before the weekend after admitting his 29 man squad needed to be trimmed down this week.