Gillingham Vs Accrington Stanley
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DATE: Sat 10 Sep 2011
TIME: 15:00
VENUE: KRBS Priestfield Stadium
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Gillingham are without Jack Payne for the visit of Accrington but manager Andy Hessenthaler has received plenty of positives elsewhere among his squad.
Midfielder Payne has been ruled out for a month having sustained knee ligament damage during last Saturday`s late 1-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury.
However, striker Danny Kedwell returned to training on Thursday following a knock he picked up against the Shrews and should be okay to face Stanley.
Chris Whelpdale took a blow to his ankle upon his return from a calf injury but has trained all week, while fellow midfielder Danny Spiller is also back in contention after a virus ruled him out completely last weekend.
Second-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has been ruled out with mumps and, with Daren Hawkes unable to be recalled from his loan spell at Ramsgate and youth-team stopper Ashley Bourne injured, defender Matt Fish will be named on the bench as back-up to Ross Flitney.
Accrington boss John Coleman is boosted by the return of on-loan Burnley defender Kevin Long.
Long and midfielder Charlie Barnett were sent off during last weekend`s goalless draw at Barnet.
The former served a one-match ban in midweek when Stanley beat Carlisle in the Johnstone`s Paint Trophy but Barnett now serves the second game of a three-match suspension.
Nat Taylor is still suspended, while Alan Burton has been suffering from a virus all week and will be assessed, although he is rated doubtful for the weekend.
Coleman was left in buoyant mood after his side`s 3-2 win over Carlisle, saying: "We've been working on our finishing in training so it's pleasing when it comes off."
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