Rochdale to take Hart when Southend visit

Sam Hart and Alex Dobre could both make their Rochdale debuts against Southend.

Defender Hart and winger Dobre have this week made loan moves to Spotland from Blackburn and Bournemouth respectively.

Billy Knott, another recent recruit, will be hoping for his first Dale start having appeared off the bench at Gillingham.

One player who will have to come out of the starting line-up is Joe Bunney after he joined Northampton.

Southend academy manager Ricky Duncan and under-23 coach Kevin Maher will take charge of the squad after Phil Brown was placed on gardening leave.

Defenders Anton Ferdinand and John White should feature again, along with Michael Timlin, having returned against Fleetwood last week.

Anthony Wordsworth continues his recovery from a calf injury, while Josh Wright has been sidelined by a hamstring problem.

Centre-back Rob Kiernan is in rehabilitation after undergoing an operation on his knee.