Kevin Maher returns to Southend United's battered side at basement boys Hull City tomorrow for a match from which boss Alvin Martin readily admits his men have to collect three points.

The midfielder, who celebrated his 22nd birthday earlier this month, is now free from a three-match suspension and won't get many better chances of picking up a win bonus than against the badly-bruised Tigers of Humberside.

Sad Hull have lost eight of their last nine games and are in turmoil with owner David Lloyd, the Davis Cup tennis supremo who formerly lived in Leigh, threatening to close the club down if he can't find a buyer.

But Martin refused to concede that Hull would prove easy meat for his team who have themselves earned just three points from their last six matches.

He said today: "This will prove as difficult as any other game in this division - there doesn't seem much difference between teams at the top or bottom as they are all capable of performing well on any particular day.

"It's certainly an important match for us and one we desperately need to win after our recent poor run.

"We had a great start to the season and built up high expectations but have been brought crashing down to earth in the last few weeks. Hopefully it will give everyone a boot up the backside."

Martin has only one major fitness doubt before naming his side to tackle the division's whipping boys - versatile Alex Burns is under treatment after a recurrence of his foot injury. Defender Leo Roget has recovered from the stomach upset which kept him out of contention in midweek.

"It will be a big boost to have Maher back especially as we are due to lose two more players - Burns and Dave Morley - for next weekend's home clash with Darlington after they picked up five yellow cards," added the Blues chief.

"I shall be looking for a strong response from my players tomorrow - it's a big test of their character and I detect a mood in the camp that they are determined not to let the club down."

Hull will definitely be without right wing-back Richard Peacock who picked up a stomach strain in the 3-0 thumping at Exeter on Tuesday and midfielder Warren Joyce is doubtful after going down with a stomach bug.

SOUTHEND UNITED (from): Margetson, Burns, Stimson, Morley, Newman, Coleman, Gooding, Beard, Conlon, Whyte, Clarke, Fitzpatrick, Jones, Livett, Maher, Roget.

Soccer trivia: Hull City is the only team in the League which has no letters that you can colour in.

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