Southend skipper Ralph set to have knee surgery

Southend United captain Nathan Ralph could miss most of the rest of the season as he is likely to need surgery on a knee injury.

The 32-year-old has been with The Shrimpers since 2019 and has made 25 appearances this season.

"There's a tear in there so he'll probably need an op on it," boss Kevin Maher told BBC Essex.

"Until they go in there and do what they need to do we won't know fully but it's going to be a number of weeks (out), of course."

Southend are eighth in the National League, two points outside the play-off places, after reaching the final at Wembley last season, only to lose 3-2 to Oldham Athletic.

They are at home to Morecambe on Saturday but Maher expects they will have to play as many as nine games in March following Wednesday's postponement at Aldershot because of a waterlogged pitch.

Maher's side are also still in the FA Trophy and have a quarter-final away to Horsham on 28 February.