Gillingham v Burton preview

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Danny Jackman returns to contention for Gillingham.

Jackman has missed the Gills’ last three matches through suspension but is back in the fold as Martin Allen’s side aim to consolidate their place at the summit.

Fellow midfielder Charlie Lee will also be checked on as he looks to make his comeback from a leg injury.

And Allen will be pleased to see his options boosted in the middle of the park, with David Wright having returned to parent club Crystal Palace following the expiration of his one-month loan deal after last weekend’s emphatic 4-0 win over Aldershot.

Left-back Joe Martin was forced off at half-time in the clash against the Shots and will be assessed.

Calvin Zola could return to the Burton squad.

Albion boss Gary Rowett hoped to have the five-goal striker back for last weekend’s visit of Bristol Rovers. The Congolese resumed training on the eve of the game but then declared himself still unfit.

Rowett faces a third week sweating on the fitness of Zola but he is optimistic the 27-year-old will finally overcome his hamstring problem to travel to Kent.

“Calvin is a key player and I can’t wait to have him back in the team. I’m very hopeful that he will be available for the weekend,” said Rowett.

“But I’ve got to be cautious to a degree because I thought he would be back in the team against Bristol Rovers. He trained on Friday but he felt he still wasn’t quite right. Unfortunately, there’s no magic remedy that will clear up his type of injury.”

Fellow striker Adi Yussuf sustained a groin injury in training on Monday and is a major doubt.

Gillingham v Burton preview

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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.

Gillingham v Burton preview

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Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler has two major injury doubts ahead of his side’s clash with Burton.

John Nutter’s groin problem has eased but after strict orders from the club’s physio to rest it for at least seven days, the game is likely to come too soon for the left-back.

Winger Dennis Oli made his return last week as a substitute in the defeat to Bradford but aggravated a hamstring problem while on reserve duty and will be monitored on a daily basis in order for him to be considered.

Some good news for Hessenthaler is that Alan Julian and Tony Sinclair are set to make the squad after injury and new signing Bruce Inkango should receive international clearance in time to be considered.

Burton defender Darren Moore could come back into the reckoning for Albion.

The imposing centre-half has missed the last two matches with bruised ribs following a collision with an advertising board towards the end of the 3-0 home win over Hereford.

Moore’s possible inclusion would be the only change to the squad that faced Crewe last weekend. Paul Peschisolido’s side suffered no fresh problems following the 1-1 draw at the Pirelli Stadium.

Meanwhile, Keith Gilroy moved a step closer towards a first-team return with a hat-trick for the reserves this week. The Irishman has been sidelined since January after suffering a recurrence of a long-standing hamstring problem.

Peschisolido said: “Keith is still only 80 or 90% fit but he’s getting there and scoring three goals in the reserves was definitely a move in the right direction.”