Southend United defender Adam Barrett will finally get the chance to run shoulders with the Premiership big boys tomorrow.

The committed centre-back was cruelly forced to miss clashes with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season after picking up a stomach problem.

But the 27-year-old is now fit to figure in the Shrimpers' FA Cup fourth round tie against Spurs at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

"In all honest I thought I had missed my chance to taking on a Premiership side," said Barrett, who is determined to make the most of the opportunity agaisnt Tottenham.

"It's not very often that you get three matches in the same season against a top side, but I'm delighted it's happened because it was so disappointing to miss out on the other two games.

"I'm delighted that we've been paired with Spurs again and hopefully we can give them another good game."

Blues lost 1-0 in extra-time to a Jermain Defoe goal when the two sides met in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup last month.

Full story and match preview in today's Echo.