Southend United manager Alan Little has been knocked back in his latest bid to bring a new midfielder to Roots Hall.

The Blues chief held talks with a 23-year-old player this morning, believed to be Bristol City's former England under-21 star Matthew Hewlett, who has played 120 league games for the Robins and scored nine goals.

However, the player has turned down a loan move to Roots Hall because of worries regarding his own fitness.

"I have spoken to a player but he has turned me down because he doesn't feel fit enough to play first-team football at Southend," said Little.

"He didn't want to come to Roots Hall for a month and then let us down because he wasn't strong enough to do the job we need him to do in the centre of the park.

"But at least he was honest with us and I will now turn my attentions to other players that I have in mind as potential signings."

Meanwhile, Little has urged young defender Leo Roget to get over his disciplinary problems and make a return to form.

The 22-year-old stopper landed himself in trouble with the Shrimpers chief after a heated confrontation with Barnet's players at Roots Hall last Friday.

Roget entered the visitors' dressing room after they pulled off a 3-1 victory to cement their place at the top of Division Three and smashed up their portable stereo, nearly sparking a full-scale punch-up.

"Leo has been dealt with internally and as far as I am concerned that is the end of the matter," said Little, who is believed to have fined the defender a week's wages.

"He knows he's been out of order and Leo now needs to put this incident behind him and get on with his football career.

"Leo is a very young man who can never be faulted for his endeavour on the pitch, but is still at a tender age and needs to get this sort of thing out of his system. But he's had a warning now and Leo realises he has done wrong, which is another part of his learning curve.

"His response in training has been excellent this week and I hope this is the last incident of its kind."

Little added that he was still hoping to tie up a loan deal for a new midfielder later on today.

"I've spoken to a lad at a Second Division club and I'm hoping to get some positive feedback before this evening," he said.

: Blues' Avon Insurance Combination League Cup clash against Ipswich Town at Roots Hall tonight has been cancelled because of ice on the pitch.

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