Nile Ranger returns to Southend following release from prison
The 26-year-old was given an eight-month sentence in May after admitting to online banking fraud.
Nile Ranger has been released from prison and has returned to Southend for fitness tests ahead of a reintegration into the squad.
The 26-year-old was given an eight-month sentence in May after admitting to online banking fraud, an offence the Shrimpers were aware of before they signed him in August 2016.
Ranger penned a new contract until 2020 in December and Southend have confirmed he is available to return to training with Phil Brown’s side immediately.
A statement published on southendunited.co.uk read: “Nile Ranger was this morning (Friday) released from Pentonville Prison after serving a little over 10 weeks.
“Nile was eligible for early release under the HDC (Home Detention Curfew) Scheme, due to the short duration of his sentence and his consistently excellent custodial behaviour. Nile may regard himself as fortunate but will remain under an evening home curfew for the next five to six weeks.
“However, this will enable him to resume training immediately and Nile Ranger is today undergoing a fitness test and assessment that will help steer his training regime over the next seven to 10 days before he rejoins the squad.”
Ranger scored eight times across 28 appearances for Brown’s men last term.
