Manager Steve Evans has joked that fans might get a place on the bench for Saturday’s League One trip to relegation rivals Fleetwood Town.

After yet more injuries at Rotherham United on Tuesday night, Evans has suggested he will travel north this week with only eight or nine fit professionals.

Both Max Ehmer and John Akinde were injured in the 5-1 loss at Rotherham and they are both expected to be missing alongside defender Ryan Jackson was sent off on Tuesday night.

With Rhys Bennett and David Tutonda still uncertain on when they will return to the squad, goalkeeper Jamie Cumming back after being forced to isolate due to Covid and Evans still without the likes of Vadaine Oliver, Kyle Dempsey and Alex MacDonald, things have hit new depths at Priestfield.

Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse, Gillingham will have to rely on youngsters once again and the likes of Gerald Sithole, Bailey Akehurst and Harvey Lintott will get starting places or have to make up the numbers this weekend.

For Evans, this game represents one of the lowest points in his managerial career, but he is focused on trying to get something from the game:

“You have to make your own luck, so we will continue to work hard and do things right. We will be positive with the group. Fleetwood has always been a tough place to go, they could have scored more than three on Tuesday.”

“We are working with what we have got, and we still have some very good players. Jamie Cumming is back in tomorrow (Friday). I am doing this job because I love it. I am hurting because we are not winning games, but we need to get through this period and get players back.”

“It’s unprecedented times in terms of injuries. People know the facts, other managers know. Every point we get between now and New Year’s Day is something we can be pleased with. The next two are important games.”

When speaking on Thursday, Evans confirmed things have gone from bad to worse and Max Ehmer’s dislocated shoulder sustained at Rotherham will keep the central defender out for a number of weeks:

“Max’s (Ehmer) is a full dislocation. We will await the result of a scan; I think it will be weeks rather than months. Alex MacDonald is being operated on within the next hour.”

Meanwhile, Evans has tried to show there is a united front along with chairman Paul Scally:

“Myself and the Chairman have supported each other through this. Every club has had COVID issues so we don’t look at that in isolation. Both teams need to win Saturday. We will be efficient and organised.”

Going into the game with so few players in unprecedented. Few Gillingham fans will travel to Fleetwood believing their side can return to Kent with anything.

When the lowest of lows are hit, it feels like there is nowhere to go even lower, but for Gillingham, lower seems to be into League Two at present.

Meanwhile, Fleetwood will again be without Daniel Batty for the game on Saturday.

The midfielder continues to serve the suspension resulting from his straight red card in the 5-1 loss at Accrington last Saturday.

Three days later Fleetwood beat Bolton 3-0 at Highbury Stadium to end an eight-match winless run.