After losing the play-off final last season, Southend United will be looking to go one better this campaign and have signed a proven striker at the level to help them do so.
The Shrimpers have secured the services of striker Andrew Dallas from League One side Barnsley. The 26 year old has signed for the National League side on a loan deal until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Who is Andrew Dallas?
Dallas started his career in his native Scotland with Scottish Premiership side Rangers. Despite progressing through the youth system, the striker did not make a first-team appearance for the Gers.
The 26 year old moved South to Cambridge United in 2019 and made 33 appearances for the U’s but did not find form. A successful loan spell with Weymouth, scoring 12 goals in 25 games, allowed him to secure a move to Solihull Moors in 2021.
After proving himself again in the fifth tier during a loan spell with Chesterfield, Dallas earned a move to League One and Barnsley in 2023. The striker has failed to make his mark with the Tykes and has been sent on a number of loan spells in the Scottish Premiership, League Two and the National League since.
The 26 year old is now set to spend the 2025-26 season in the National League having secured a season-long-loan move to Southend United.
What could Andrew Dallas bring to Southend United?
The biggest attribute of Dallas’ that Southend United will benefit from is his goalscoring ability. His intelligent off-the-ball movement has allowed him to score 52 goals in 118 appearances during spells in the National League with Weymouth, Solihull Moors and Chesterfield.
His ability to test opposition goalkeepers was shown during his loan spell at Morecambe last season. The 26 year old had an average of 2.2 shots and 1.04 shots on target per 90 minutes with a 48% shot accuracy, despite his side suffering relegation from League Two.
It won’t be solely goals that Dallas could provide the Essex side but also chance creation. Last season, the 26 year old created an average of 1.43 chances per 90 minutes and according to fotmob’s player traits graphic he created more chances than 90% of players in similar positions in the fourth tier.
Southend United’s new striker will provide them with the opportunity to defend higher up the pitch with his work ethic and ability to win the ball back for his sides. During the 2024-25 season, Dallas won 3.29 ball recoveries per 90 minutes on average and had a tackle success rate of 55.6%.
Is Andrew Dallas a good signing for Southend United?
With promotion to the EFL the aim for Southend United, it is important that they improve on their goalscoring output from last season. Despite finishing in the play-off places, the Shrimpers ranked ninth for goals scored across the season and were the second lowest scorers out of the sides finishing in the top seven.
On top of this, their top scoring striker from last season was Aribim Pepple who was recalled from his loan spell from Plymouth Argyle in January. Securing the services of Dallas may go some way in ensuring they have a striker who scores regularly this upcoming season.
Southend United ranked first in the National League last season for accurate crosses with 7.9 per match. With this in mind, it suggests that the Shrimpers have been creating chances and been waiting for the right striker to be on the receiving end of them.
At the age of 26, Dallas could be seen as entering the prime of his career. With this in mind, Southend United could have found the final piece of the puzzle that sees them challenge for promotion back to the EFL during the 2025-26 National League season.
