Southend boss allays fears over on-loan Portsmouth forward's injury

Hackett-Fairchild was sent on loan to Roots Hall in January to garner regular Football League experience after impressing at Bromley in the first half of the season.

The former Charlton man has been a regular for the Shrimpers, scoring once in 17 games and started the previous five games before their trip to Harrogate on Saturday.

However, Hackett-Fairchild was absent against the Railwaymen with a back injury, although Southend picked up a shock 1-0 win to move three points adrift of safety.

With eight games to play, Mark Molsley’s side are in a dogfight to avoid the drop to non-league football.

However, the Shrimpers boss allayed feared over Hackett-Fairchild’s setback and hopes to have him back quickly.

‘Reeco’s back flared up after the last game,’ Molesley told the Southend Echo.

‘It tightened up in training on Thursday and in training on Friday he couldn’t quite participate the way he would’ve liked.

‘With a long journey up here it was never a recipe for him making the game fitness-wise but hopefully the rest will do him good and it’s a short term thing.’

Meanwhile, Bryn Morris featured for 90 minutes as Northampton lost a crucial game against League One relegation rivals AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons picked up a 1-0 victory at Plough Lane to move level on 36 points with the Cobblers but have played two games fewer.

Morris has played 14 times since moving to Sixfields in January.

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