Southend United boss Steve Tilson expects midfielder Anthony Grant to start against Exeter City on Saturday.

Blues are without midfielders Alan McCormack and Jean-François Christophe through suspension for the visit of the Grecians.

And with Franck Moussa Southend's only fully fit central midfielder, Tilson expects to name Grant sooner than he had expected following his comeback from an ankle injury.

"In an ideal world we would have liked to have given Granty longer," Tilson told southendunited.co.uk.

"But we're not in an ideal world at the moment so it's a case of needs must.

"He played 45 minutes for the reserves two weeks ago and he got another 60 minutes this week.

"He came through both those games OK and fingers crossed he will get through Saturday's important match also."

Grant has been missing from first team action since the end of January after picking up an ankle problem against Swindon Town.