Southend v Newport preview

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Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley will chase history in Southend’s home clash with Newport.

The 21-year-old stopper has kept a club record-equalling 10 straight clean sheets at Roots Hall and he will set a new benchmark if he is not breached when the Exiles come to town.

Phil Brown was impressed with Gary Deegan when he replaced the injured Ryan Leonard on Saturday and the ex-Hull boss suggested the former had done enough to hold on to his shirt.

Adam Thompson was recently ruled out for the entire season after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

Newport will be boosted by the return of Ismail Yakubu to their squad ahead of the trip.

The former Barnet centre-back missed their defeat to Bury as he served a one-game suspension for his late red card at Exeter on Easter Monday and Yakubu is now set to come back into Jimmy Dack’s squad as they look to get back to winning ways.

Ryan Jackson made a welcome return to the side on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring strain while Robbie Willmott is edging closer to a recovery from a thigh injury and may make the bench at Root Halls.

Just one win in five has seen the Exiles slip to eighth in the chase for the play-offs.

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