Southend United's loan star striker Kevin Rapley is losing his battle to be fit for tomorrow's crunch Third Division match at Hartlepool United.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan from Brentford, has been confined to the treatment room this week with Blues physio John Gowens trying to overcome a niggly hamstring injury.

"I'm struggling to make the trip to Hartlepool," admitted the youngster, who has yet to find the target in a Southend shirt despite hitting four goals for Brentford this season.

"Last week against Barnet I limped out of the action with a sore hamstring and I haven't been able to train all week.

"I attempted to have a run at the training ground this morning but my leg started dragging badly and even though I've been under intensive physio all day it's looking very doubtful that I'll play at Hartlepool.

"I'm gutted because I desperately want to play tomorrow and help the rest of the lads get a win.

"However, Christmas is a busy time for footballers and I'd rather sit this one game out to help my hamstring heal.

"Then I can get fit for the rest of the festive games, rather than push my hamstring and face a long-time on the sidelines through injury."

However, Rapley said he will still make the long trip to the Victoria Ground to cheer on his team mates if he is ruled out.

The Hartlepool game is the first of four Third Division matches which Blues will play during Christmas fortnight, a period Shrimpers boss Alvin Martin knows is vital to his side's hopes of turning their miserable season around.

"There's a lot of pressure on us to get a result at Hartlepool tomorrow," said Martin.

"It's not the easiest place to visit and I'm sure we're in for a very tough game, but we need to bounce back after letting ourselves down against Barnet last weekend by making this match count."

Martin also confirmed that injured duo, striker David Whyte (knee) and left-back Mark Stimson (ankle) would not be making the trip, but winger Adrian Clarke is fit again following his Achilles injury.

Hartlepool manager Mick Tait only has one major injury worry - broken hand victim Ian Clark. However, one man who will definitely line-up against Blues is former Roots Hall target Graham Lee.

Southend (from): Margetson, Beard, Gooding, Newman, Coleman, Morley, Livett, Maher, Houghton, Conlon, Burns, Clarke, Jones, Fitzpatrick, Dublin and Rapley.

Hartlepool (from): Hollund, Knowles, Smith, Ingram, Lee, Barron, Miller, Stokoe, Stephenson, Midgley, Howard, De Lella, Baker, Rush, Brightwell and Hutt.

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