Loan signing Gavin Tomlin comes into the reckoning for his Gillingham debut at promotion rivals Shrewsbury on Saturday but Danny Kedwell is set to miss out.

Tomlin on Thursday completed a loan switch from Dagenham & Redbridge until the end of the season and his arrival is timely, with fellow forward Kedwell struggling to recover in time from a broken rib sustained against Stoke last weekend.

Jo Kuffour has signed a permanent deal until the end of the season but the striker, who had been on loan from Bristol Rovers, has been suffering with bronchitis so may only make the bench.

Midfielder Lewis Montrose suffered a suspected broken bone in his hand during training earlier this week but will be okay to feature, while strikers Dennis Oli and Stefan Payne are both fit, however the latter is expected not to travel.

Midfielder is expected to be on the bench once again, despite being subject to a bid from Swindon Town.

Left-back Joe Martin, however, serves the second game of his two-match suspension for his dismissal in the 1-0 win over Aldershot.

Simon King (knee), Danny Spiller (ankle), Barry Fuller and Adam Birchall (both knee) remain sidelined.

Therefore, The Gills could line up like this:

Flitney, Lawrence, Richards, Frampton, Jackman, Whelpdale, J Payne, Lee, Weston, Montrose, Tomlin.

Subs: Gazzaniga, Fish, Oli, Rooney, Kuffour.

“The only real negative of the FA Cup game was the injury to Kedwell,” Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler told the club’s official website.

“He has cracked a rib and it looks very much like he won’t be available for tomorrow.

“He is scoring goals and if that is the case, which is looking likely, it’s a blow to the team because he is that head of the spine, our top striker, and we are going to miss him.

“But everyone has problems in their team and we have to overcome that.”

While Shrewsbury have only found the net three times in the last six games, Hessenthaler, whose side have lost just one of their last eight League games, remains wary of Town’s attacking threat.

“They are a strong outfit and they have some good players,” he added.

“The lad (Terry) Gornell up front along with (Marvin) Morgan are a handful and the two wide players in (Lionel) Ainsworth and (Mark) Wright are also quality.

“Their front four are very good and so we have to be on our game defensively to stop them.

“But we are in good spirits and we are confident and in good form in the League.”

Jermaine Grandison and Carl Regan will compete to fill Shrewsbury’s right-back slot for the visit.

James Hurst’s decision not to extend his loan stay in Shropshire and instead pen a deal with npower League One Chesterfield has provided the defensive vacancy.

Manager Graham Turner must now decide who steps in as the Shrews return to League Two action following last weekend’s narrow 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Middlesbrough.

Everton loanee James Wallace has also opted not to prolong his spell at the Greenhous Meadow in favour of a stint in the third tier with Stevenage.

That, however, has enabled Turner to bring in David McAllister from Sheffield United and the midfielder comes into contention for his Shrews debut.

Midfielder Nicky Wroe (foot) and defender Reuben Hazell (knee) continue to miss out.