Plymouth v Southend preview

Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Plymouth Argyle and Southend at Home Park.

New signings Juvhel Tsoumou and Alex MacDonald will be hoping for their Argyle debuts.

Tsoumou signed on loan from Preston, while MacDonald joined on a temporary deal from Burnley, and both strikers could be involved in manager Carl Fletcher's matchday squad at Home Park.

However, striker Warren Feeney has been ruled out for three to four weeks after sustaining a calf injury in training last week.

Midfielder Ladjie Soukouna is searching for a recall to the starting XI after coming off the bench during the 1-0 defeat at Port Vale last time out.

Forward Craig Sutherland's loan spell from Blackpool is over, but defender Paul Bignot is still available for selection after he extended his loan spell with the Pilgrims from the Seasiders, and the full-back said Argyle are improving as a team.

He told the Plymouth Herald: "I would say the team is a lot more solid now and harder to break down. We are, slowly but surely, making progress."

Meanwhile, Paul Sturrock will weigh up whether to ring the changes for Southend's trip to his old club.

Sturrock labelled Tuesday's sluggish display in the 4-1 home defeat to promotion rivals Swindon as the poorest in his 18 months in charge at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers boss called his players in on Wednesday to get to the bottom of the problem and is demanding a huge improvement in Devon.

Defender Mark Phillips faces a late fitness test as he looks to recover from a groin injury which has kept him out of late. Ryan Leonard, Barry Corr, Harry Crawford (all knee) and Lee Sawyer (thigh) remain sidelined.

Sturrock makes his first return to Home Park since parting ways with the Pilgrims, the second of two spells in charge coming to an end in 2009.

A precautionary pitch inspection will be held at Home Park at 8am but Argyle are confident of getting the game on, despite the bad weather.