SOUTHEND United midfielder Alan McCormack has been ruled out of this afternoon's game at Gillingham with an ankle injury.

The Irishman has been replaced by Osei Sankofa in a move which will see Simon Francis move on to the right flank.

Anthony Grant switches back in to the centre of the park alongside Jean-Francois Christophe while Francis Laurent has been preferred to Scott Malone on the left wing.

Southend: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Baldwin, Barrett, Herd, Francis, Grant, Christophe, Laurent, Vernon, Spencer

Subs: Malone, Paterson, M'Voto, O'Keefe, Crawford and Bentley.