Gillingham v Burton preview
Last Updated: September 23, 2011 2:14pm
Fuller: Nursing a knee injury
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Gillingham and Burton Albion at Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler has a number of injury concerns.
The Gills chief admits it would be hard to replace any of those who started last weekend's emphatic 6-1 triumph at Hereford.
However, Barry Fuller is nursing a knee injury which is failing to improve ahead of the visit of Albion while fellow defender Garry Richards and midfielder Luke Rooney are also struggling with knocks.
But there is some good news for Hessenthaler, with defenders Matt Lawrence and Matt Fish expected to be available having both suffered a bout of concussion which forced them to miss out at Edgar Street.
Midfielders Danny Spiller (ankle), Jack Payne (knee) and Curtis Weston (thigh), as well as striker Adam Birchall (knee), continue to be ruled out.
Burton will wait to see if Calvin Zola is fit enough to return to the squad.
Striker Zola missed the 2-0 home victory over Swindon with a tight hamstring. His replacement Billy Kee marked his first start for Albion with the opening goal against the Robins.
Boss Paul Peschisolido will have a decision to make about who to leave out should Zola be fit.
Peschisolido took a gamble on the fitness of Jacques Maghoma last weekend. The midfielder was hurried back into action after an ankle injury but came through 81 minutes without suffering any ill-effects.
"Because of the loss of Calvin, I was desperate to get Jacques back in the side but when he turned up at the ground his ankle was still a bit swollen," said Peschisolido. "It was the sort of gamble I wouldn't normally take on a player's fitness but happily it turned out fine and he hasn't said anything about aggravating the injury. He should be fine for the game at Gillingham."
Cleveland Taylor is closing in on a return to fitness after a month on the sidelines with an ankle problem and the winger could resume training next week.
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
