Goalkeeper Andy Woodman admitted he still missed life at Roots Hall as he prepared to make his first return to Southend United with his current Oxford team-mates.

Andy Woodman -- seen playing his last game on loan for Blues, a 3-1 win over Macclesfield Town in November 2000. Picture: LUAN MARSHALL 00/8930D

The shot-stopper made 17 Third Division appearances for the Shrimpers on-loan from Brentford last season.

But a permanent move to Roots Hall collapsed for financial reasons, with Woodman joining Blues' Essex rivals Colchester on a free transfer.

However, the 30-year-old now finds his future in the balance again. And farmed out at Oxford this time, Woodman said he would relish a second chance with Southend.

"I loved my time at Roots Hall and I was gutted when I never moved there on a permanent basis," explained the keeper.

"I was dropped at Colchester when we were two points outside the Second Division play-off zone. And the reason I got was that I couldn't kick the ball far enough!

"So I asked to go out on loan for first team football and Ian Atkins, my former manager at Northampton Town, took me to Oxford.

"I can't wait to go back to Roots Hall tomorrow. It will be the first time I have played there since I left Blues and I'd like to think the Southend fans will give me a good reception.

"I'll also have a double incentive to do well tomorrow because I could be on the move again very soon.

"If I was to leave Colchester I certainly wouldn't rule out a Roots Hall return. And I'll be doing my best to show that I'm still a good goalkeeper by keeping a clean sheet for Oxford tomorrow."

Blues boss Rob Newman, whose side are 12th in Division Three, three points and five places above the U's, wants his side to erase the painful memory of a limp display at the Kassam Stadium back in September.

"We put in an awful performance at Oxford, losing 2-0, and we were lucky to get the nil," he said.

"Coupled with the 5-1 defeat at Hartlepool last weekend, it was probably our worst 90 minutes of the season. "And we need to put the record straight with a win tomorrow. But I'm sure it will be a hard test for us as Oxford have good individual players and it surprises me that they are not involved in the promotion race."

Blues will again be without midfielder Kevin Maher (toe), who has started training, and winger Steven Clark (knee).

Full-back Mark Beard finishes a three match ban, while striker Tony Richards returns to the squad after recovering from a back problem.

Southend (from): Flahavan, Searle, Broad, Whelan, Cort, Barry-Murphy, Selley, Rawle, Thurgood, Belgrave, Bramble, Forbes, Johnson, Szmid, Kerrigan, McSweeney, Richards, Newman, Gay.

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Published Friday, March 1, 2002