Blues try out top Estonian (From Basildon Recorder)

Blues try out top Estonian

10:12am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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ESTONIAN international defender Andrei Stepanov will today join Southend United on trial.

The 30-year-old centre-back, who was with Watford last season, has won more than 70 caps for his country.

And he will be now be training with Blues for the next few weeks.

“Andrei was recommended to us by an agent and we will be having a look at him in training,” confirmed Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson.

“He’s played at a decent level and has experience at international level and we obviously need a defender so it makes sense to bring him in.

“The plan is for him to play in a few of our pre-season games and then we will go from there and make a decision.”

Stepanov has played his club football in Estonia with FC TVMK Tallinn and Lelle SK before moving onto Russian outfits Torpedo Moscow and FC Khimki.

Last term he featured just once for Watford and is now keen to earn a contract with another English club.

He is joined on trial at Roots Hall by Dutch left-back Guus De Vries and he will also figure during pre-season, which starts at Great Wakering on Friday July 10.

Tilson will be hoping the duo can impress as he desperate to bring in a new centre-back and left-back.

Peter Clarke’s decision to depart has hit the Shrimpers hard but he could now be joined at Huddersfield Town by his former Southend team-mate Theo Robinson.

The striker, who was on loan with Blues towards the end of last season, had been expected to join Swindon Town.

But Huddersfield are now favourites to sign the 20-year-old from Watford.

“I don’t think it is going to happen now,” confirmed Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton.

“We seem to have hit a problem which we are very upset about.

“We agreed a deal with the club and player but there are shenanigans going on that we have warned certain people about. This is a classic example of agents and greed.

“It’s been long drawn-out and more frustrating than anything. We have an agreement with Watford, but whether I’m hopeful or not – I’ll wait and see.”

If Robinson does join Huddersfield then he and Clarke will both make their debuts for the Terriers back at Roots Hall on Saturday August 8.

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