Southend v Mansfield preview

Team news for Friday's League Two clash between Southend United and Mansfield Town at Roots Hall.

Southend hope Adam Thompson will be available to face Mansfield on Friday night, while John White returns from suspension. Thompson has missed out of late due to a calf injury but was looking to make it through training on Thursday without any ill-effects, while fellow defender White completed a one-match ban as he missed last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Newport. Centre-back Mark Phillips serves the second game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Dagenham. Striker Freddy Eastwood may struggle to be fit for a couple of weeks as he manages a troublesome knee injury, although long-term absentee Marc Laird has been training this week. James Jennings comes back into the reckoning for Mansfield ahead of their trip to Southend. Jennings missed the last-gasp home defeat to Plymouth through suspension but after serving his one-game ban against Argyle the left-back will probably go straight back into manager Paul Cox's starting line-up on Friday night. Goalkeeper Alan Marriott will be assessed after back spasms ruled him out last weekend but centre-half John Dempster, serving the second game of his three-match suspension, and fellow defender Martin Riley (Achilles) are definitely out. Cox is confident of signing Stoke striker James Alabi on loan before the game at Roots Hall.