Southend United boss Phil Brown has explained why he won’t be taking Elliot Lee back on loan from West Ham.

Lee joined the Shrimpers in October but he failed to make an appearance after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Lee is expected to join Luton Town instead and Brown told the Echo: “The chairman has afforded me 23 or 24 professional players and we’re fairly rich in the striking department.

“To bring another one in would’ve been collecting players as the chairman puts it and I don’t want to be seen to be doing that.

“If I had got one out then there was a possibility of getting Elliot Lee in and I probably would’ve taken him again.”