Fleetwood Town vs Southend United preview - Alexander ponders keeper issue

Fleetwood are short of goalkeeping cover for their Sky Bet League One opener against Southend at Highbury Stadium.

Chris Maxwell is the only fit senior goalkeeper on the club's books with American Brendan Moore out with an ankle injury and both Mason Springthorpe and Scott Davies having left over the summer.

The likely solution is for Andreas Arestidou, who has been training with the Cod Army since being released by Morecambe, to be registered as a Fleetwood player.

Manager Graham Alexander otherwise has a fully-fit squad with newly-named captain and centre-back Nathan Pond having returned to training following injury.

Southend boss Phil Brown has no major injury concerns as he prepares his side for life back in the third tier.

Summer signings David Mooney, Anthony Wordsworth and Noel Hunt are all expected to make their first appearances for the Shrimpers.

Brown must decide whether to start with Mooney and Hunt up front, with the latter only joining the club last week.

"Getting your first three points on board is hugely important and we want them as quickly as we can," said Brown. "We're confident and ambitious and we really do believe we can achieve something at this level."