Torquay v Gillingham preview

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Torquay boss Martin Ling will be forced into a change after Joe Oastler’s red card against Bristol Rovers.

The 22-year-old right-back picked up a second yellow card on the half-hour mark for a push on Lee Brown and Ling is likely to select Daniel Leadbitter in his place.

Leadbitter, a former Newcastle trainee, played in that position during the second half at the Memorial Stadium allowing Lee Mansell to move back to the centre of midfield.

Torquay, who remain without Lloyd Macklin (cracked metatarsal) and Ian Morris (ruptured Achilles tendon), are looking to maintain their unbeaten league record at Plainmoor this season against a Gills side who have lost once in League Two.

Gillingham are monitoring a couple of unnamed players struggling to be fit.

Manager Martin Allen is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding the identities of those affected as his Gills side aim to continue their superb start to the season and maintain their place at the top of the League Two table.

Michael Freiter, 16, has been called up to the squad for the game and will likely take his place on the bench at Plainmoor.

Fellow midfielder Charlie Lee has been missing for the last six matches with a leg injury and appears unlikely to return to the fold against the Gulls.

Saturday’s impressive 4-1 win over Burton means Gillingham have taken 32 points from a possible 39 on offer so far this season, dropping just two of those on their travels.

Torquay v Gillingham preview

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Torquay will be without injured winger Ian Morris for their clash with Gillingham.

Morris has been ruled out of action for at least two months, and will require an operation, after a scan revealed a piece of bone floating in the 24-year-old’s knee.

However, manager Martin Ling is boosted by the return to the first-team squad of attacker Billy Bodin.

The youngster missed the Gulls’ 1-0 defeat to 10-man Bradford last week as he was on international duty with Wales Under-21s.

But the on-loan Swindon forward is set to go straight back into the starting line-up to face the Gills.

Torquay are trying to put an end to a run of six League Two matches without a win.

Meanwhile Gillingham’s injury woes continue ahead of the trip to Torquay with the news that Danny Kedwell and Dennis Oli will miss out while Charlie Lee is also doubtful.

Leading scorer Kedwell sustained a toe ligament problem during last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Port Vale while fellow forward Oli is sidelined with a hamstring complaint.

Midfielder Lee was replaced after 55 minutes of the encounter carrying a knock and faces a late fitness test.

The news only adds to manager Andy Hessenthaler’s lengthy list of wounded, with captain Barry Fuller this week discovering he needs an operation to correct a knee problem and will miss the rest of the season.

Fuller was already sidelined along with Andy Frampton (calf), Danny Jackman (knee), Jack Payne (knee), Danny Spiller (ankle) and Adam Birchall (knee).

Defenders Garry Richards, Matt Fish and Joe Martin all passed late fitness tests last week to start against Vale and have fortunately not suffered any ill-effects. Midfielder Lewis Montrose does come back into contention having served a one-match suspension last Saturday.

Torquay v Gillingham preview

admin

Torquay will be without injured winger Ian Morris for their clash with Gillingham.

Morris has been ruled out of action for at least two months, and will require an operation, after a scan revealed a piece of bone floating in the 24-year-old’s knee.

However, manager Martin Ling is boosted by the return to the first-team squad of attacker Billy Bodin.

The youngster missed the Gulls’ 1-0 defeat to 10-man Bradford last week as he was on international duty with Wales Under-21s.

But the on-loan Swindon forward is set to go straight back into the starting line-up to face the Gills.

Torquay are trying to put an end to a run of six League Two matches without a win.

Meanwhile Gillingham’s injury woes continue ahead of the trip to Torquay with the news that Danny Kedwell and Dennis Oli will miss out while Charlie Lee is also doubtful.

Leading scorer Kedwell sustained a toe ligament problem during last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Port Vale while fellow forward Oli is sidelined with a hamstring complaint.

Midfielder Lee was replaced after 55 minutes of the encounter carrying a knock and faces a late fitness test.

The news only adds to manager Andy Hessenthaler’s lengthy list of wounded, with captain Barry Fuller this week discovering he needs an operation to correct a knee problem and will miss the rest of the season.

Fuller was already sidelined along with Andy Frampton (calf), Danny Jackman (knee), Jack Payne (knee), Danny Spiller (ankle) and Adam Birchall (knee).

Defenders Garry Richards, Matt Fish and Joe Martin all passed late fitness tests last week to start against Vale and have fortunately not suffered any ill-effects. Midfielder Lewis Montrose does come back into contention having served a one-match suspension last Saturday.

Torquay v Gillingham preview

admin

Torquay manager Paul Buckle has no new injury or suspension problems to worry about for the home clash with Gillingham.

That means the Gulls chief could name the same starting line-up for the fourth successive game, despite the 2-1 defeat at Morecambe last time out.

If that is the case, centre-back Chris Robertson will be asked to continue in the unusual position of right-back, a role he is happy to continue in – for now.

He told the club’s official website: “If the gaffer wants me to do a job at right-back I am happy to play there, but he knows and I know I am a centre-back by trade.”

That would also leave the likes of on-loan winger Ashley Hemmings, Billy Kee and Damon Lathrope on the bench.

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler will hand late fitness tests to Danny Jackman, Joe Martin and Danny Spiller ahead of the trip to Torquay.

Defender Jackman had to be withdrawn after 71 minutes of the 1-0 win over Northampton last weekend with a knee injury, Spiller picked up an ankle problem despite playing the full game and fellow midfielder Martin has been struggling with a hamstring injury.

The trio only returned to training on Thursday morning but will be given as much time as possible to declare their fitness.

Midfielder Jack Payne, who was an unused substitute last weekend, will be in the matchday squad despite a foot injury, but defender Simon King continues to struggle from an ongoing ankle problem that has hampered him for over 18 months.