Southend v Burton preview

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Southend will be without the suspended Jerome Binnom-Williams when Burton visit Roots Hall.

Binnom-Williams was sent off during the defeat at Wycombe last weekend and the defender will begin a three-match ban on Friday night. His absence could pave the way for a surprise return for Ben Coker, who has been out with an elbow injury since early September.

Adam Thompson will definitely come back into the reckoning after serving a one-game ban.

The likes of John White, Will Atkinson, Kevan Hurst, Conor Clifford and Shaquile Coulthirst are also options for Shrimpers boss Phil Brown.

Jimmy Phillips could make his long-awaited return to the Burton squad.

Albion’s longest-serving player has been out for eight months with a knee injury but he resumed full training recently and the winger may make the trip to Essex.

Forward Lucas Akins is also nearing a return after an ankle problem but defender Kelvin Maynard, who missed last weekend’s win over Hartlepool through injury, remains a doubt.

Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has the likes of Ian Sharps, fit again after a foot injury, George Taft, Adam McGurk, Matty Palmer and Remi Matthews to call on should he wish to make any changes to his starting line up.

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Southend v Burton preview

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Southend have doubts over three players for the play-off semi-final second leg against Burton.

John White, Michael Timlin and Luke Prosser will all be handed fitness checks ahead of the Roots Hall showdown.

Full-back White is struggling with a thigh injury and midfielder Timlin has an ankle problem, but if both are passed fit boss Phil Brown could name the same side that lost the first leg 1-0 last weekend.

Centre-half Prosser, who was on the bench at the Pirelli Stadium, is a doubt with a back injury.

The suspended Ian Sharps could be one of as many as six Burton players to miss the crucial second leg of the Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final against Southend.

Sharps sits it out at Roots Hall after he was sent off during Albion’s 1-0 home victory over the Shrimpers last weekend. Fellow defender Damien McCrory and midfielder Jimmy Phillips are also definite absentees after knee injuries brought a premature end to their campaigns.

First-leg goal scorer Adam McGurk, winger Zeli Ismail and centre-half Shane Cansdell-Sherriff are racing to be fit for Saturday’s midday kick-off.

McGurk (groin) has not trained this week while Cansdell-Sherriff (Achilles) has been out of action for the past three weeks.

Southend v Burton preview

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Southend boss Phil Brown is considering making changes for the game against Burton with one eye on the play-offs.

The Shrimpers confirmed a top-seven finish thanks to a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood last time out and even though they have a good chance of finishing fifth, Brown could freshen things up.

The former Hull manager has experience waiting in the wings in Freddy Eastwood and Lee Barnard, while youngsters Conor Clifford and Adam Thompson will also be desperate for a chance to impress.

Victory over Burton would see Brown’s side leapfrog the Brewers in the table and could set up a play-off clash between the two clubs.

Burton boss Gary Rowett will rest key players for the final game of the season against Southend.

Rowett will use the match to give some of his fringe players the chance to impress ahead of Albion’s forthcoming League Two play-off campaign, when they could actually face Saturday’s opponents in a two-legged semi-final.

“We want to put a competitive team out, but I’ve got two or three players that I can’t afford to lose for the play-offs,”said Rowett.

Ten-goal forward Adam McGurk (groin) has missed the last three fixtures and will remain sidelined at Roots Hall but he will be fit for the play-offs. Rowett hopes that centre-half Shane Cansdell-Sherriff (Achilles) will be back for the second leg of the play-off semi-final, but winger Jimmy Phillips and left-back Damien McCrory (both knee) will not play again until next season.

Southend v Burton preview

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Barry Corr starts a three-match suspension for Southend.

The striker, making only his second appearance following 17 months on the sidelines, was shown a red card during the weekend’s 1-1 draw at Plymouth following an off-the-ball incident with Darren Purse.

Manager Paul Sturrock has opted not to appeal having reviewed the video evidence, telling Southend’s official website: “The DVD catches the incident but it isn’t clear cut as to what happened so I think any appeal would be unsuccessful.

“It has to be a 100 per cent clear and obvious error by the referee to stand a chance of being overturned and I think in this instance that isn’t the case. That’s not to say Barry is guilty but you have to make a judgement based on the evidence available and the probability of success.”

Goalkeeper Paul Smith (concussion), centre-back Mark Phillips and forward Gavin Tomlin (both groin) will each be assessed again having failed fitness tests ahead of the trip to Plymouth.

A late decision will be made about whether Burton striker Calvin Zola travels with the rest of the squad.

Zola was rested for the Capital One Cup defeat at Bradford last Tuesday but on his return to the team for Saturday’s home league fixture against Northampton he lasted just 47 minutes before he was forced off with a hamstring problem.

Billy Kee replaced Zola against the Cobblers and, depending on what formation manager Gary Rowett plumps for at Roots Hall, he could do so again.

Rowett gave full debuts to loan signings Rob Kiernan at centre-half and Luke Rooney on the right wing as Burton drew 3-3 with Northampton, and they could keep their places in Essex.

Southend v Burton preview

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Southend’s home encounter against Albion is likely to come too soon for Blair Sturrock.

The striker missed all of pre-season with an ankle injury and has not featured in any of the Shrimpers’ four matches to date, but he made his long-awaited comeback for the club’s reserves on Wednesday as he played 90 minutes – scoring once and hitting the woodwork twice.

But manager Paul Sturrock has admitted his son, who was the club’s second leading goalscorer last term, is not yet ready to return to first-team action. Influential forward Barry Corr (knee) continues to step up his recovery programme.

Sturrock senior faces a decision in how to utilise central defender Bilel Mohsni following his conduct of late. The Tunisian has been disciplined by the club for a recent dressing room fracas while his performance after coming off the bench in Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Crawley was abject.

Centre-back Mark Phillips will again face a fitness test on his groin, with Graham Coughlan once more ready to step in alongside fit-again Chris Barker if needed.

Injuries are piling up for Burton boss Paul Peschisolido.

On-loan Leicester defender Tom Parkes suffered a fractured ankle during the home draw against Port Vale on Tuesday night and faces a lengthy spell out.

Peschisolido was already without another centre-half in Nathan Stanton (knee), winger Cleveland Taylor (ankle) and strikers Greg Pearson (infected toe) and Adi Yussuf (hamstring) against Vale.

Meanwhile, full-back Paul Boertien has yet to kick a ball this season as he battles for fitness following a long-term groin problem.

Despite Parkes joining Stanton on the sidelines, Albion are well-covered in the centre-back positions.

Club captain Darren Moore has yet to play this season, while Ryan Austin came off the bench to replace Parkes in midweek and could be first in line to start at Roots Hall.