SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock feels Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Oldham Athletic will signal the start of his side’s hardest week of the season.

Blues host the Latics at Roots Hall in the second round of the competition before also playing Swindon and Cheltenham Town in quick succession.

And Sturrock insists the trio of teams will be a real match for Southend.

“I think you would have to say this will be our most difficult week of the season,” said the Scotsman.

“All of the sides are in form and bubbling along nicely, while Oldham are also in the league above, so I’m expecting them all to be difficult games.

“If we can come out the other side of them still on top of things then it would be an incredible achievement, but we will be giving it our best shot.”

Blues’ game with Swindon, which is in the area semi-final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, takes place at Roots Hall next Tuesday.

But it is the trip to Cheltenham Town in League Two the following Saturday which Sturrock believes is the most important.

“The league is our main priority but I would say the trip to Cheltenham will be our toughest game of the season so far,” said Sturrock.

“They are on an unbelievable run of results at the moment and have moved up to third in the table.

“They also don’t have a game when we’re playing in the JPT, so that is a concern and we don’t want to tire out our players.”

FULL STORY IN WEDNESDAY'S ECHO