Gillingham v Crewe preview

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Gillingham boss Peter Taylor has been forced to tell some of his players to stay at home as a bug hampers his preparations for the clash with Crewe.

Steven Gregory is back in contention after missing last weekend’s draw at Bradford through illness but Charlie Lee and others have felt under the weather this week.

Ryan Inniss is set to return from a hamstring injury but Danny Kedwell faces several more weeks on the sidelines with a knee problem and Chris Whelpdale (ankle) is also out.

Taylor’s side are searching for their third home win in a row and their sixth in seven games at Priestfield in 2014.

Crewe defender Mark Ellis should be fine for his struggling side’s trip to Gillingham but Harry Davis is definitely out.

The Alex remain in the League One drop zone having failed to win in five, but Ellis is expected to be in the heart of their defence despite coming off in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Oldham due to a neck injury.

Davis, son of boss Steve, dislocated part of his kneecap in training on Thursday and is expected to miss the rest of the season but fellow defender Adam Dugdale should make the squad, although he has been struggling with a toe problem.

Striker Vadaine Oliver is unlikely to travel, though, as he has a serious case of tonsillitis. Long-term absentees Ryan Colclough (stomach) and Max Clayton (ankle) are still not back in full training, although the former is progressing well following his double hernia operation.

Gillingham v Crewe preview

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Andy Hessenthaler will again take a depleted squad into Gillingham’s home game.

The Gills boss was without as many as eight players for Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Barnet and the situation has hardly improved.

Centre-back Garry Richards is the latest to join the treatment room having suffered a fractured fibula in midweek which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Richards is joined on the sidelines by fellow defenders Joe Martin (suspended) and Jack Evans (groin), midfielders Curtis Weston, Jack Payne (both knee) and Jordan Obita (tonsilitis) as well as forward Gavin Tomlin (hamstring).

Striker Danny Kedwell also faces a late fitness test as he struggles with illness.

But there are some positives for Hessenthaler as defenders Simon King (illness) and Andy Frampton (ankle) along with striker Jo Kuffour (knee) hope to be available.

Meanwhile, Crewe boss Steve Davis hopes to have James Tunnicliffe among his defensive options.

Wycombe loanee Tunnicliffe suffered a shoulder injury during his second appearance for the Railwaymen at Southend last month.

Despite news he will require surgery to find a long-term solution to the problem, the 23-year-old has resumed training this week with a view to taking part at Priestfield.

Full-back Jordan Brown and striker Ajay Leitch-Smith are pushing for starts after appearing from the bench in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Rotherham before turning out for the reserves against Shrewsbury.

Former West Ham youngster Brown is chasing a first Alex start, while Leitch-Smith recently spent time on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Midfielder Lee Bell continues to struggle with illness, while Nick Powell and Max Clayton came through their Wednesday night outings in England Under-18s’ victory over Poland at Gresty Road unscathed.

Gillingham v Crewe preview

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Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler has demanded a reaction from his players ahead of the game.

Hessenthaler was unhappy with his squad after the FA Cup defeat to non-league minnows Dover and threatened to place them all on the transfer list as punishment.

The Gills boss has used the loan market to bring in a fresh face in an attempt to improve performances on the pitch. Callum Kennedy has joined on-loan from Swindon and is likely to make his debut in defence against Dario Gradi’s men.

John Nutter is suspended following his red card against Dover while Nicky Southall should keep his place in midfield.

Mark Bentley has been ruled out for up to a month with a broken foot he sustained in training, while Matt Lawrence picked up an injury against Dover and is unlikely to feature.

Crewe chief Dario Gradi could make changes for the trip.

Gradi made four changes against Carlisle as his team slipped to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in midweek.

Midfielder Lee Bell is likely to be one of those recalled after he was rested at Brunton Park.

Shaun Miller could come back into the side should the striker recover from a hamstring injury.

David Artell was another rested on Tuesday night and he is also likely to be restored to the starting line-up. However, fellow defender Mat Mitchell-King is unlikely to feature as he has an ankle problem.