Full-back Nathan Ralph doubtful for struggling Southend

Posted Thursday, August 29, 2019 by PA

Southend will need to check the fitness of left-back Nathan Ralph ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture at home to Rochdale.

Kevin Bond’s team have lost every game in the division this season and will hope defender Ralph can recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature at Roots Hall.

Stephen McLaughlin has been absent for the last three games with an ankle problem and may be missing again this weekend.

Elsewhere, Tom Hopper (knee), Harry Kyprianou (Achilles), Timothee Dieng (calf) and Sam Barratt (knee) remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

Rochdale are unlikely to have Aaron Wilbraham available for Saturday’s fixture despite the forward making good progress following a calf problem.

It has been a similar story for Ryan McLaughlin, who suffered an impact injury in pre-season, but he came off the bench during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Carlisle and can expect more minutes at Southend.

Ian Henderson is set to be restored in the starting line-up after the striker sat on the bench against Carlisle, with midfielder Oliver Rathbone and defenders Rhys Norrington-Davies and James McNulty also set to play.

Youngster Harrison Hopper has returned to training and should be pushing for a place in the squad after the international break.