United will have a makeshift defence however, as Pat McGibbon has now returned to Wigan Athletic whilst left-back Andrew Dawson starts a two match ban.
The Shrimpers are not without their own injury problems, with some good news for the Iron defence as Southend have no fit strikers at the club.
Mark Rawle, Tesfaye Bramble and Tony Richards all sit out for the Roots Hall outfit.
Player-manager Rob Newman, a central defender, may resort to playing himself upfront.
He played himself as a striker in their victory at Lincoln City recently.
"The way things are going I might put myself there again," he said today.
"Stranger things have happened."
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