City will again be without defender Michael Nelson as they travel to the Priestfield this Saturday. He picked up an injury away at MK Dons last week and may be out for up to 5 weeks after ligament damage in his left ankle was discovered to be worse than first thought.
This means that Michael Spillane should get the nod at the back alongside Jens Berthel Askou.
Also out will be Stephen Hughes (achilles), Matt Gill (knee) and Owain Tudur-Jones (calf). Rhoys Wiggins has taken part in the last 2 reserve fixtures after a knee injury but it is unlikely we will see him in action on Saturday.
Like City the hosts are not without their own injury concerns. Defender Garry Richards was suspected to have a broken toe as he limped out of a game earlier this week but damage is now not thought to be as bad as first suspected. He should be fit to face Norwich. However the Gills will be without long term absentee – and player of the year – Simon King after he picked up an ankle ligament injury during pre-season. Joining him in the stands will be Mark McCammon (hamstring) and Stuart Lewis (ankle).
Norwich From:
Michael Theoklitos, Jon Otsemobor, Adam Drury, Grant Holt, Jamie Cureton, Gary Doherty, Declan Rudd, Wes Hoolahan, Michael Spillane, Chris Martin, Tom Adeyemi, Paul McVeigh, Simon Lappin, Darel Russell, Fraser Forster, Rhoys Wiggins, Dario Dumic, Luke Daley, David Stephens, Cody McDonald, Sam Habergham, Danny Kelly, Korey Smith, Goran Maric, Jens Berthel Askou, Damon Lathrope.
Gillingham From:
Alan Julian, Simon Royce, Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Garry Richards, Josh Gowling, Tom Wynter, Kevin Maher, Jack Payne, Mark Bentley, Rashid Yussuff, Adam Miller, Danny Jackman, Curtis Weston, Chris Palmer, Andy Barcham, Luke Rooney, Simeon Jackson, Jacob Erskine, Dennis Oli.
Gillingham go into this match having suffered a 4-1 defeat at League One leaders Leeds United last time out. This heavy defeat came after the Gills had picked up two good wins at home to Exeter and Millwall, 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. In fact their home form this season has been terrific, bettered only by Leeds, Charlton and Huddersfield. Gillingham have won 3 and lost only 1 of their 4 games, scoring 10 goals in the process and conceding only 1. Their only loss was a 1-0 defeat to Hartlepool in August.
It will certainly prove a tough place to go for Lambert’s men. City’s record on the road is not great with 1 win 1 draw and 2 defeats. There are signs of improvement though. Last time out at Stadium:mk City gave a very good account of themselves, taking the lead inside 20 seconds. Cruelly, all three subs had to be used due to injuries and this caused big reshuffling. Still, it took 2 set pieces for MK Dons to overcome the deficit so City have positive to take from the game. Lambert can also take courage from the way City battled back from 2 goals down against Charlton to draw 2-2.
Norwich last 5:
WWDLD
Gillingham Last 5:
LDWWL
Referee: Paul Taylor
Assistants: Lee Collins and Ashley Slaughter
4th Official: Carl Berry
