Gillingham v Morecambe preview
Last Updated: May 4, 2012 12:51pm
Payne: Back in for hosts
Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Gillingham and Morecambe at Priestfield Stadium.
Curtis Weston and Chris Whelpdale are set to miss Gillingham's final match of the season.
Weston, who has only recently returned from a knee injury, is struggling with a bout of food poisoning while fellow midfielder Whelpdale, who has been managing a knee complaint of his own, has sustained a groin problem.
But manager Andy Hessenthaler is boosted by the return of midfielder Jack Payne after a hamstring injury.
Gavin Tomlin (ankle), Callum Davies (hand) and Garry Richards (knee) remain sidelined while long-term absentee Adam Birchall has resumed training but the clash comes too soon for him to make an appearance.
The Gills' 1-1 draw at Northampton last weekend ended any hopes of clinching a play-off place.
Meanwhile, Morecambe youngster Dan Parkinson is poised for a surprise first-team return.
Parkinson made a trio of substitute appearances earlier this season, the latter of those coming during October's 4-0 thrashing of Port Vale.
The 19-year-old forward subsequently enjoyed a successful loan spell with Blue Square Bet North outfit Vauxhall Motors and has been named in Jim Bentley's squad to face the Gills.
Top scorer Kevin Ellison remains on the sidelines with a back problem, although fellow forward Jordan Burrows heads into the match in a rich vein of form following three goals in his last four outings.
Experienced defender Nick Fenton (calf) is a long-term absentee alongside Lawrence Wilson, Andy Fleming (both knee) and Stewart Drummond (appendix).
Matches
-
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 |
