Southend United's Paul Sturrock still in talks with trio of targets

And he hopes to complete deals before his squad return for pre-season training tomorrow.

Blues are still in discussions with Crystal Palace midfielder Alassane N’Diaye, a winger and a striker and Sturrock is hopeful things can soon be sorted out.

“I was in meetings with players yesterday and I will be today and we hope everything is close to being agreed,” said Sturrock.

“Tara (Brady) is also working very hard on the deals we want to happen and we’re hopeful of bringing more players to the football club before we come back in for training tomorrow.”

To date, striker Neil Harris remains Sturrock’s only summer signing.

But the Scotsman is looking forward to welcoming him to the club, along with his returning players tomorrow.

“It will be good to get pre-season training underway,” said the Blues boss.

“I’m sure the players will come back in good shape and it’s certainly very different to when I was a player.

“We did no training at all and would come back overweight before battling through pre-season to get fit again.

“Those days have gone now though and it’s a very important time of the year.”

However, it remains to be seen if skipper Craig Easton and Blair Sturrock will be training will be back training with Blues tomorrow.

The duo are both out of contract at the club but Sturrock was reluctant to talk about their futures and would not comment on whether they would be returning for the start of pre-season.

“All I will say is that negotiations are continuing with both of them,” added Sturrock