Source: FOOTYMAD
Harris in race to return for Gillingham clash: 'I would probably say I'm 50/50 at the moment'
Shrimpers striker Neil Harris has given himself an evens chance of returning to face an old club in the Gills at Roots Hall Tuesday evening. Harris: 'You have to be sensible or you will risk an even longer lay-off' Shrimpers striker Neil Harris turned out for this evening's opponents Gillingham on loan a few seasons back grabbing half-a-dozen league goals, and it looked as if his present dodgy groin would see him fail to face them in the Roots Hall clash. However, Bomber, who has missed the last two games Southend games, faces a late fitness test to help out the club's severe striker shortage! Harris told www.echo-news.co.uk: “My injury has responded well to treatment and hopefully I’ll be able to play tonight. I would probably say I’m 50/50 at the moment but I’m really keen to get out there again and not just because it’s my old team we’re playing “I want to be able to help the rest of the lads and there’s also something extra special about the evening matches at Roots Hall.” Then again, the former Millwall scoring legend is no spring chicken anymore and has not trained with his team mates since suffering the injury during the JPT victory over Crawley Town at the back end of last month. So even in the absense of Liam Dickinson, his last game out suspended, last season's top scorer Barry Corr having only retuened to kicking a ball about Monday, and with makeshift forward Bilel Mohsni having to go through a late fitness test of his own, it would be a risk starting with Bomber, so a place on the bench seems the best bet. Harris continued: “You have to be careful about these things and there’s a fine line between playing when you’re really ready to play and when you’re not. I’ve played in the past when I haven’t really been fit and I think most footballers probably have. However, you have to be sensible and not come back too soon or you will risk an even longer lay-off.” So we will wait and see, fingers crossed, but he looks upon his time in Kent with fondess. Harris said: “I had a great few months there. There are a lot of cracking people at the club and Andy Frampton and Matt Lawrence are among my best friends in the game. It would be brilliant to play against them and to also help us get a good result after losing at Swindon on Saturday.” And we could all do with seeing Bomber out there! The Harris Files A mural of Harris in Banksy style outside The Den Personal information Full name Neil Harris Date of birth 12 July 1977 (1977-07-12) (age 34) Place of birth Orsett, England Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Playing position Striker Club information Current club Southend United Number 9 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1997–1998 Cambridge City 64 (43) 1998–2004 Millwall 233 (93) 2004 → Cardiff City (loan) 3 (1) 2004–2007 Nottingham Forest 33 (1) 2005–2006 → Gillingham (loan) 36 (6) 2007–2011 Millwall 147 (32) 2011– Southend United 5 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2011.† Appearances (Goals). (Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Harris_(footballer_born_1977)
