Southend v Wycombe preview

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Adam Thompson remains the only absentee for Southend as they prepare to face Wycombe at Wembley in the League Two play-off final.

Thompson suffered a dislocated shoulder against Mansfield at the start of April and the central defender is expected to be out for around six months.

Shrimpers boss Phil Brown, who won promotion to the Premier League with Hull via the play-offs in 2008, will not be making too many changes, if any, to his starting line-up on Saturday.

“Apart from Adam Thompson, every member of the squad is on the training pitch so I have some fantastic options,” said Brown. “Ninety per cent of the team has been selected over the 48 games this season. The consistency level has been first class. With the 49th game of the season, I know my best team.”

Wycombe’s one big injury concern is goalkeeper Matt Ingram.

Ingram missed both legs of the semi-final with Plymouth because of a knee problem so Alex Lynch, nervy against Arygle at Home Park, could continue to deputise between the posts.

Steven Craig (hamstring) was absent for the second leg against Plymouth but the forward looks like he will be back in the squad for the trip to the national stadium.

Reflecting on Wycombe’s season, boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “It really is a fairytale story – where Wycombe have been this season. When we started the season not one fan would have envisaged this.”

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Southend v Wycombe preview

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Phil Brown has a decision to make over his goalkeepers for Southend’s home clash with the Chairboys.

Daniel Bentley (groin) returned to full training this week having missed two successive games but England Under-19 international Ted Smith has kept clean sheets in both of those fixtures, leaving Brown with a selection headache.

Striker Shaq Coulthirst was recalled by parent club Tottenham earlier this week, although Brown had not been using 21-year-old in his starting line-up recently anyway.

Mads Ibenfeldt remains a long-term absentee due to a foot complaint.

Matt McClure will be unavailable for Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth as he begins a three-match suspension.

The striker was sent off inside 70 seconds against Tranmere on Tuesday and saw his subsequent appeal turned down by the FA.

Marcus Bean, who was not risked in midweek despite travelling with the squad, remains a doubt with a persistent knee injury, while Max Kretzschmar (groin) is still sidelined.

Aaron Pierre is free to return after completing a two-match ban but Ainsworth faces a dilemma after Danny Rowe’s impressive performances.

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Southend v Wycombe preview

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Loan signing John Egan is in line to make his debut for Southend at home to Wycombe.

The centre-back was on Thursday brought in from Sunderland on a month-long deal to help ease the club’s defensive problems.

Adam Thompson missed Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Northampton due to a calf injury, joining Luke Prosser on the sidelines as he struggles with a similar complaint. The pair are unlikely to return in time to face Wanderers.

Fellow defender Julian Bennett is a long-term absentee with his knee problem, while loanees Cian Bolger and Luke O’Neill were recently forced to return to respective parent clubs Bolton and Burnley due to injury. However, midfielder Conor Clifford does make his comeback having completed a four-match ban.

Wycombe have no fresh injury worries as they look to end a successful week on a high at Southend.

The Chairboys looked in real trouble until 1-0 wins over leaders Chesterfield and then off-form Exeter lifted them five points clear of the League Two relegation zone.

Manager Gareth Ainsworth was full of praise for his new-look back four in the absence of the experienced Gary Doherty, sidelined after dislocating his elbow, and they are set to line up again at Roots Hall.

If Ainsworth decides to freshen things up then he could turn to the likes of top scorer Dean Morgan and Jo Kuffour.

Southend v Wycombe preview

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Michael Timlin returns to contention as Southend search for their first win of the season.

The midfielder missed last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Northampton – the Shrimpers’ first point of the campaign – due to a one-match suspension.

Winger David Martin was recalled to United’s starting XI at Sixfields and hopes to be okay this weekend having been forced off with an ankle complaint just after the hour mark.

It remains to be seen whether winger Ryan Hall, heavily linked with a move away from the club, returns to the fold having missed out against the Cobblers with a foot injury.

Striker Freddy Eastwood could well come back into Paul Sturrock’s matchday 18 having recovered from a calf problem.

Wycombe manager Gary Waddock could hand debuts to new signings Jo Kuffour and Adam Thompson.

The Chairboys have signed Kuffour on a short-term deal after the 30-year-old was released by Gillingham last season, while Thompson has joined on a one-month youth loan from Watford.

Both are unlikely to start, but are expected to feature from the bench at Roots Hall.

Matt Bloomfield is a doubt with a groin strain, while striker Matt McClure will be challenging for a start on his comeback from a knee problem.

Danny Foster is also making a return to fitness following a knee injury, but the match against the Shrimpers will come too soon for him to be included.

Marvin McCoy (ankle) and Sam Wood (knee) are expected to spend an extended spell on the sidelines with long-term injuries.

Southend v Wycombe preview

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Southend boss Paul Sturrock prepares for the visit of Wycombe having had longer to decide who will replace injured centre-half Bilel Mohsni.

The Shrimpers’ clash at Accrington on Saturday was postponed just 90 minutes prior to kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch, with Southend’s team bus already at the Crown Ground having completed their mammoth trip north.

But they must put that frustration to one side as they look to continue with their play-off charge against a Wanderers side third in League Two but who lost 1-0 at Bradford on Saturday.

French defender Mohsni has been ruled out for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury, with experienced defenders Graham Coughlan and Mark Phillips both competing to take his place.

Young striker Kyle Asante is again likely to make Sturrock’s squad having scored a hat-trick for Southend’s reserves last week following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Wycombe manager Gary Waddock could be without Chris Westwood for his side’s trip to Southend.

The experienced defender only lasted 45 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bradford after suffering a groin injury during the first half and is a doubt to face the Shrimpers.

Alan Bennett, who returned from a calf strain to take his place amongst the substitutes, replaced Westwood for the second half against the Bantams and is likely to step into the starting line-up if the former Hartlepool man fails to recover in time.

Left-back Andy Sandell is still sidelined with a knee medial injury that is expected to keep him out for a minimum of six weeks but the Chairboys have no other injury or suspension problems to contend with.

Waddock’s side will move up to second place if they return to winning ways following one draw and a defeat in their last two games.