SOUTHEND United striker Stephen Humphrys will miss Saturday's trip to Sunderland with a thigh problem.

The forward - who is Blues' top scorer with five goals this season - has been suffering with the injury since the 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley at the end of September.

And he could now be sidelined for up to three weeks after scans revealed a grade two tear.

Blues will also be without the suspended Stephen McLaughlin and Ethan Hamilton this weekend but Harry Lennon is back from a one match ban.