Gillingham will be at almost full strength for the visit of Ipswich Town to Priestfield on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Steve Evans could welcome skipper Kyle Dempsey back into the starting line up, but will assess the midfielder at training on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, on loan Norwich City striker Tom Dickson-Peters is set to be handed a start after agreeing a deal to stay with The Gills until the end of the League One campaign.

Dan Adshead and Alex MacDonald appear to be Gillingham’s only long term absentees now with the former out until the end of the month and the latter out for the rest of the season.

The Covid / Christmas period has allowed Evans to get his injured players back, fit and available and the side now look a lot stronger on paper.

Having an almost full squad in which to choose from is a luxury for Evans who has had to dip into the youth team in recent months, but he insists he won’t risk starting Dempsey if he’s not ready:

“Kyle Dempsey will be on the training ground today. Whether he’s ready to start, we’ll make a decision this afternoon.”

“We have our experienced group back, and that experienced group will win Football matches. We need the Gills fans to join us in the battle.”

“We know that every point, or three, will be crucial. We need to start delivering home victories.”

Meanwhile, Evans confirmed Dickson-Peters was in contention to start, whilst he’d received offers for some of his players:

“Tom has come in; I could see him playing up top as part of a duo, or a three.”

“We’ve had offers for a few players, but none have matched our valuation.”

Dempsey, Vadaine Oliver and Jack Tucker are all believed to be on the radar of several clubs, but Evans will be desperate to hold on to the trio in Gillingham’s push to avoid relegation from League One.

Gillingham fans could be outnumbered by their Ipswich counterparts for the game with the away end set to be sold out for the clash that was meant to have been played on Boxing Day.

Ipswich were due to travel to Kent, but have had to wait a further two weeks for the game after a Covid outbreak in the Gillingham camp.

For a large number of Gillingham fans, Saturday represents the first opportunity in weeks to stage a protest against under-fire chairman Paul Scally with many set to boycott the game and show their frustration at the way things are going at Priestfield by gathering outside the ground before the game.

Ipswich fans have apparently galvanised under new manager Kieran McKenna with the former Manchester United coach hoping his side can push for a League One play-off place following a difficult start to the season.

Gillingham go into the game sitting 22rd in the league, still some four points from safety, but a win would go a long way to building confidence and bringing some fans back onboard.

For Ipswich Town, they head to Priestfield in eleventh, but knowing they need a win to keep touch with the play-off pack.

Come 5pm on Saturday, it will be a lot clearer as to where both sides are headed.