Gillingham will be without defender Ryan Jackson for the visit to Port Vale on Saturday afternoon.

He serves a one-match suspension following his sending-off for a second yellow card in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw with Bradford City at Priestfield last weekend.

Midfielder Bradley Dack, who has bone bruising around his knee, could come back into contention after being rested, while summer signing Scott Wagstaff is available again after coming off the bench last week for a belated debut following a calf problem.

Jamie O’Hara, though, has sustained a heel problem so is not expected to feature.

Left-back Bradley Garmston has stepped up his recovery from a dislocated kneecap, while defender Aaron Morris (knee) remains sidelined and midfielder Lee Martin is a long-term absentee after suffering a serious ankle injury in pre-season.

Port Vale boss Bruno Ribeiro expects to have a similar squad to last weekend as his side look to make the club’s best-ever start to a season at Vale Park.

Few changes are likely following the 2-2 draw at Peterborough, although Rigino Cicilia is competing with Martin Paterson for a place up front after replacing him in the second half at London Road.

Anthony de Freitas and Anton Forrester were injury absentees against Posh and both players remain doubts.

Should Ribeiro’s team be victorious on Saturday it will be the first time Vale have recorded five home wins on the spin from the start of season since the 1933-34 campaign – when the club were still playing at the Old Recreation Ground in Hanley.