Southend United vs Port Vale - Anthony Wordsworth expected to be fit for Southend

Posted Friday, October 09, 2015 by PA

Southend midfielder Anthony Wordsworth is expected to shake off a knock in time for the home game against Port Vale.

Wordsworth was forced out of the midweek Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Crawley but boss Phil Brown is hoping he is available.

Striker Noel Hunt (ankle) and defender Adam Barrett (hamstring) are still out and on-loan Brighton defender Glen Rea is away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.

Long-term absentees Adam Thompson (dislocated shoulder) and Stephen McLaughlin (ill) remain sidelined but played the full 90 minutes in a midweek Under-21s game and are closing in on a return to first-team action.

Port Vale defender Remie Streete will play no part after being knocked out in the midweek Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat to Blackpool.

Streete was stretchered off following a clash of heads in the first half and although not taken to hospital, he is still being monitored.

Michael O'Connor could be included in Rob Page's squad for the first time this season. The midfielder has been out since damaging knee ligaments in pre-season but played for an hour in the reserves in midweek and is hoping to make the trip.

Page made two changes on Tuesday night, with Michael Brown and Louis Dodds both starting, and must decide whether to retain them or recall Uche Ikpeazu and Sam Foley.