Southend have completed the signing of free agent Scott Spencer on a six-month contract with an option of a further year.
The 21-year-old striker was a non-contract player at League Two side Rochdale earlier this season after being released by Everton.
Toffees boss David Moyes signed him as a 16-year-old from Oldham but he failed to make it into Moyes' first-team plans and was loaned to Macclesfield.
But following his exit from the Dale, Spencer has since spent a successful trial spell at Roots Hall and Blues boss Steve Tilson is happy to have captured him.
He told the club's official website: "He has a good appetite and impressed in both the game he played in with the reserves and in training.
"He's hungry to do well and we've given him the opportunity so it's worked well both ways. It's certainly worth the punt."
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