GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler has bemoaned being unable to select a settled side in recent weeks.

The club are four points from safety in the Championship table after a disappointing 4-1 defeat against relegation rivals Crewe at Gresty Road on Saturday.

And Hess thinks reshuffling his pack due to senior players being unavailable has been a contributory factor.

He said: "It’s difficult because we don’t like to keep chopping and changing.

"Barry Ashby’s injury has been a blow to us. Ian Cox was not involved because he only returned from international duty on Friday – which isn’t ideal preparation.

"And we took Dean Marney off because he is struggling with an Achilles problem.

"I’m hoping to have Ashby back next week and maybe push Nayron back out to right-back and look a bit more solid.

Meanwhile, Gillingham are hoping the injury that forced John Robinson off in the second half on Saturday is only minor.

Hessenthaler said: "Robinson felt his hamstring at half-time and probably shouldn’t have gone back out there but he wanted to.

"We gave him the benefit of the doubt but as soon as he started to sprint he said he could feel it."