Southend v Brentford preview

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Southend are without the services of Tamika Mkandawire.

The midfielder has returned to parent club Millwall following the end of his loan spell but the club remain hopeful of a deal for Marc Laird.

Laird’s loan also expired following the New Year’s Day defeat to Gillingham and he returned to Leyton Orient but could feature if terms are agreed in time.

Mark Phillips is hoping he can earn a recall to the side after coming off the bench last weekend following his recovery from a knee problem.

Striker Neil Harris is back in full training following a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since September but he is not expected to return to action until the Essex Senior Cup next week.

Brentford boss Uwe Rosler has to make at least two changes to his squad.

Watford loanee Lee Hodson is ineligible to play in the competition and fellow defender Rob Kiernan has gone back to Wigan after his loan spell came to an end following Tuesday’s goalless draw against Bournemouth.

But loanees Marcello Trotta, Jake Bidwell and Tom Adeyemi are all available to play.

Rosler will consider making further changes with one eye on their promotion bid, so Richard Lee could get a run-out in goal while Sam Saunders, Jake Reeves and Paul Hayes are in contention to start.

Midfielder Kevin O’Connor (ankle) and striker Farid El Alagui (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Southend v Brentford preview

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Britt Assombalonga and Tamika Mkandawire return to the first-team fold.

The on-loan pair missed Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Bury having been denied permission by respective parent clubs Watford and Millwall to feature in the competition.

But they will be back to boost the Shrimpers as the Essex club aim to make it into the semi-finals.

One player who does miss out, however, is loanee Marc Laird who played earlier in the competition for Leyton Orient.

Manager Paul Sturrock had named the same starting line-up for five matches leading up to the clash against Bury at the weekend but, with Assombalonga and Mkandawire unavailable, he was forced to make two changes – striker Freddy Eastwood and midfielder David Martin coming in.

And it appears as though further changes could be on the agenda against Brentford.

Sturrock told the club’s official website: “A couple of the lads picked up a few knocks on Saturday, and if the game was on Monday evening they certainly wouldn’t be playing.

“We’ll assess them on Tuesday but we’re not going to risk anyone because we’ve got a lot of important games coming up throughout December.

“It will give a few of the lads the opportunity to come in and stake their claim for a place in the side though, and hopefully we’ll see a reaction.”

Brentford are set to be without the services of Jonathan Douglas.

The midfielder missed Friday night’s 1-1 FA Cup draw against Bradford after picking up a knock and manager Uwe Rosler rates him as doubtful.

Rosler can add on-loan defenders Rob Kiernan and Lee Hodson to his squad after they were denied permission to play in the cup by their parent clubs, while Fulham loanee Marcello Trotta could also return.

Centre-half Leon Legge (groin) and midfielder Tom Adeyemi (hamstring) are edging closer to fitness after four weeks on the sidelines, but they are not expected to be fit in time to feature at Roots Hall.

Long-serving midfielder Kevin O’Connor (ankle) and striker Farid El Alagui (knee) remain long-term absentees.