Swindon boss Paulo Di Canio has singled out Gills midfielder Luke Rooney for special praise ahead of tonight’s game.

Di Canio picked out Gillingham youngster Rooney as the player Town must be particularly wary of.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has scored three goals in nine starts from midfield and stopping him from playing his own game will be crucial, in Di Canio’s eyes.

“They are a very attacking side,” he continued.

“They have Rooney who runs everywhere in the final third. He is an unpredictable player and he also has a good technique.

He is the main dangerman in my opinion.

“For me he is more dangerous than the attackers, although (Frank) Nouble is very good and they also have Jo Kuffour, who is an experienced guy and is sharp and quick.”

Di Canio was keen to stress that the game will not only be about Gillingham’s attacking prowess and is confident his own strikers will be causing the opposition defence plenty of problems.

“Our strikers will cause them damage I am sure,” he said. “We have better quality in attack in my opinion. We don’t have just two qualities players up front, we have four and that is what can determine the outcome of the game.”

Di Canio will, however, be robbed of the services of top scorer Mehdi Kerrouche after the Algerian picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday, meaning he sits out the clash through suspension.

Cristian Montano and Jake Jervis will likely lead the line once again as Town look to pick up three points that would see them leapfrog the Gills.

“We have read their form away from home. They have scored 16 goals with 11 coming in two games,” said the Town manager.

“That means in the other five games they have only scored around one goal in each game, but they are in good form at the moment.

“They beat Oxford (at the weekend) in an important game because they had two men sent off, but they still got the three points so they will have positive energy now.

“But obviously we have very good defenders and we have kept plenty of clean sheets this year. So I am sure it will be a good game.”

Gillingham will be keen to make sure Di Canio’s first game against them as Swindon boss is a memorable one and for all the wrong reasons.