Gillingham vs Southend United. Sky Bet League One.
Priestfield StadiumAttendance5,584.
Friday 12 October 2018 10:31, UK
Gillingham will be missing forward Josh Parker through international duty for the Sky Bet League One match against Southend.
Parker has been called up for Antigua and Barbuda, while Brandon Hanlon is set for around a month on the sidelines with a hamstring problem sustained during the midweek Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Tottenham Under-21s.
Defender Connor Ogilvie has started trained again following his ankle problem. Midfield duo Regan Charles-Cook and Billy Bingham (both ankle) continue their recovery.
Southend will be missing defenders Jason Demetriou and Harry Kyprianou, who are both away on international duty with Cyprus. Shrimpers boss Chris Powell made the expected sweeping changes for the midweek Checkatrade Trophy loss at Colchester, but will recall his first-team regulars for the trip to Priestfield, which has a newly-laid hybrid pitch.
Defender John White (hamstring) and forward Tom Hopper (ankle) both picked up injuries during last weekend's goalless draw against Oxford and will be assessed along with winger Harry Bunn (foot).
Centre-back Harry Lennon is closing in on a return to full fitness from the fractured toe suffered on the opening day of the season, while defender Rob Kiernan (knee) remains sidelined.
This will be Gillingham's 50th home game against Southend in the Football League - the fourth side they will have hosted on 50+ occasions in the top four tiers after Walsall (55), Northampton Town (52) and Exeter City (50).
Southend have won just one of their last 10 visits to Gillingham in all competitions (D4 L5), a 2-1 win in February 2012 under manager Paul Sturrock.
Gillingham have won just two of their last 13 home league games, scoring a combined eight goals in those wins, two more than their total of six in the eleven winless games (D5 L6).
After a run of three straight defeats in September, Southend are now unbeaten in their last four league games (W3 D1).
Stephen McLaughlin has been directly involved in four goals in his three league appearances against Gillingham for Southend (three goals, one assist). Against no other side has he scored as many league goals for the Shrimpers.
