Gillingham can cope with the loss of Charlie Lee for the club’s next two games, according to manager Andy Hessenthaler.

The versatile 24-year-old has occupied the right-back slot to good effect over recent weeks but was shown his 10th yellow card of the campaign in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Bristol Rovers, meaning he now serves an automatic two-match suspension.

Lee will miss the Boxing Day trip to leaders Crawley and the clash at bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge on Friday December 30, but Hessenthaler is confident he has replacements at his disposal.

Matt Lawrence stepped off the bench just before half-time at the weekend to replace injured centre-back Andy Frampton while fellow defender Matt Fish came on for Lee as the game approached the closing stages.

Hessenthaler told the club’s official website: “Obviously we’ll lose Charlie for two games now, which is disappointing because he’s done well at right-back.

“It’s probably a yellow card offence but it’s his first foul. He’s got it and we’ve got to deal with it as he’ll miss the next two games. I thought Fishy did great when he came on so we can deal with that situation.”

Fish seems to be the most likely candidate to replace Lee in the side with Lawrence having looked uncomfortable in the right back berth. Midfielder Jack Payne could play there too, but Hessenthaler wouldn’t be keen on moving his midfield linchpin.

Whoever replaces Lee in the side, Gillingham will miss the former Peterborough man for his delivery from set pieces, along with his combative nature that has seen him rack up the yellows this season.