Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler may well be tempted to keep a winning side for Oxford United’s visit to Priestfield this weekend.

With four or five players close to returning to fitness, Hessenthaler has options once again, however The Gills manager may well keep faith with the starting line up that beat Torquay United 5-2 last Saturday.

That would mean the likes of skipper Andy Frampton, top scorer Danny Kedwell and midfielders Charlie Lee and Danny Jackman will have to make do with a place on the bench.

The game has probably come just a little too soon for midfielder Jack Payne who is still on the comeback trail and Dennis Oli will once again miss out with a hamstring injury.

Should the four players make it back onto the bench and Hessenthaler keeps Paulo Gazzaniga amongst the subs, that would mean Stefan Payne, Connor Essam, Callum Davies and Jack Evans would all have to drop out of the squad.

That would be harsh especially on Payne having shown that coming off the bench this season that he is starting to show his potential.

However, that is the harsh realities of only being able to name a sixteen man squad this season.

Whoever Hessenthaler does select to play, he will be hoping for three points against an Oxford side that start the weekend in third place in the league.