Gillingham are facing more injury misery following their weekend defeat to Southend.

Captain Gabriel Zakuani and midfielder Dean Parrett both picked up injuries and are already doubts for the trip to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

It’s another blow to boss Steve Lovell, already reeling from the news that striker Brandon Hanlan will be out for a month with a hamstring strain. Gills have also been suffering at the loss of midfield pair Billy Bingham and Regan Charles-Cook.

“The injury list is getting longer, which doesn’t help,” said Lovell, whose side have won just one of their last 10 games in the league.

“We don’t know the full extent (of the weekend injuries) but if Gabs goes off, then obviously he isn’t going to be ready next week, same with Dean. It gives an opportunity for other people to come in and have a go.

"I now have to see who is available on Monday for training, see who is injured and who is not.

“We will keep working and be ready for next Saturday. We will keep trying to grind out results until everyone comes back off that injury table. It is tough work but that is the nature of the job.”

Charles-Cook has missed the last three games and is clearly one Lovell can’t wait to see return, having been frustrated at their lack of spark in the weekend defeat to Southend.

He said: “There was a little spark in their team, which we didn’t have. Perhaps, that is the difference between us most probably having a really good season and an average one.

"Our little spark will hopefully be back in the next couple of weeks.”

Asked about missing key men, Lovell said: “They are only key when they are doing the jobs you are asking them to do. Gabs has defended well but (we conceded) two goals straight through the middle of the pitch, through the midfield and our centre-halves.

“We say it enough about playing football, that’s lovely, but you have to defend as a unit.

"That was the difference from last week, we defended as a unit but this week we didn’t. They cut us open twice but twice is enough, you lose the game because of it.”