Birthday boy Steve Jones is hoping to turn his Southend United debut into a double celebration by shooting down visitors Chester City.

The new Blue will be aiming to shoot down the fellow Third Division strugglers at Roots Hall.

The striker, who has joined Blues on-loan from Bristol City for the rest of the season, is 30-years-old today (Friday) and wants to mark the occasion by grabbing his 50th league and cup goal.

"I've been stuck on 49 goals for a long time and it would be nice to complete my half century against Chester," said the former Billericay Town forward.

"I've had a pretty frustrating season, which has been plagued by illness, and I just want to get back to playing football and scoring goals."

Jones could have joined Blues from Billericay for as little as £10,000 in 1992, before making a move to Premiership West Ham for three times that amount.

And the former Hammers ace, who joined Bristol City for £500,000 over the summer, admitted he would like to make his stay permanent this time.

"I've always had links with Southend and it was inevitable that I would play for the club one day," added Jones, who has also turned out for Charlton Athletic, Bournemouth and Brentford.

"I still live in Benfleet and I intend to make the most of my time here because joining Southend is like coming home to me.

"I'd love to make the move permanent as my wife's just given birth to my third baby girl and I want to settle back down in Essex.

"But Bristol City paid a lot of money for me and I don't know how much they'd let me go for, although I've heard they only want £50,000, we'll just have to see what happens."

Blues boss Alan Little is certainly happy with the early signals he has received from his latest acquisition.

"Steve's only trained with us a couple of times, but he's been finishing well and has looked aggressive and hungry," he said.

Jones' inclusion will be the only change to the Shrimpers' starting line-up, with fellow frontman Neil Campbell, who is still involved in transfer talks with non-league Doncaster Rovers, dropping out.

However, Little warned his 17th placed Southend side not to treat the second from bottom Seals as simple pushovers.

"This isn't going to be an easy game because they are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, although I expect a more open match, which should suit us," he added.

Southend (from): Capleton, Beard, N Jones, Morley, Coleman, Newman, Maher, Houghton, Tinkler, Carruthers, S Jones, Connelly, Fitzpatrick, Roget, Pepper, Prudhoe, Cross, Campbell.

Ready and waiting - Blues manager Alan Little, right, will unleash new acquisition Steve Jones in tomorrow's home clash with Chester

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Survival mission for Chester

Chester City visit Roots Hall tomorrow (Saturday) desperate to pick up three points in their battle to accomplish Third Division survival.

The Seals are only one point clear of bottom spot in the basement league, a position occupied by Carlisle United - who have three games in hand on their nearest rivals.

However, Chester make the long trip to Southend having enjoyed their best run of games, points and clean sheets from what has been a torrid season.

The Seals have failed to concede a goal for three matches, following their 7-1 drubbing at home to Brighton, taking five points out of the last nine.

All of which has given Chester renewed hope of beating the dreaded drop into the Conference League, under the guidance of new manager Ian Atkins.

Atkins, who took over the Deva Stadium hot-seat after leaving Northampton Town, has brought in 11 new players to aid his side's relegation fight, including Leyton Orient freebie defender Stuart Hicks.

Atkins has only paid money for one of his acquisitions, Ilkeston Town winger Tony Hemmings, who cost £2,000 and has joined loan-men, Wigan midfielder Andy Porter and Rushden and Diamonds' winger Carl Heggs, at Chester.

However, Atkins faces a battle preventing young striker Luke Beckett from moving in the opposite direction, with First Division Crewe Alexandra preparing a £200,000 raid for his services.

Two of Chester's players face fitness tests ahead of tomorrow's clash with Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Angus Eve (calf) and defender Jamie Robinson (ankle) both doubtful.

Chester (from): Brown, Moss, Robinson, Hicks, Hobson, Richardson, Fisher, Porter, Hemmings, Beckett, Heggs, Woods, Finney, Eve, Krister, Carden, Doughty.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.