The West Ham midfielder arrived on loan at Adams Park this week and equalised for Gary Waddock’s strugglers in the 64th minute with a low shot from outside the box.

Four minutes earlier Alan McCormack had headed the Shrimpers into the lead from a couple of yards out following a fine cross from Osei Sankofa.

A minute after the goal debutant striker Matt Paterson, who came to Southend as part of the £175,000 deal that took 17-goal top scorer Lee Barnard to Southampton, fired wide after finding himself in a one-on-one with Wycombe keeper Scott Shearer.

The match was goalless at half-time, although the visitors had forced saves out of Steve Mildenhall, while a decent shout for a penalty was not given by referee Dean Whitestone, and Southend tested Shearer a couple of times.

After the break Mildenhall saved from ex-Southend winger Kevin Betsy before another former Shrimper, Matt Harrold, headed over when well placed.