FA Cup weekend gives Gillingham a welcome break from the action says manager Steve Evans
05:00, 30 November 2021
updated: 10:13, 30 November 2021
Gillingham manager Steve Evans has welcomed their mini-break as a chance to reset.
Three straight defeats in League 1 without a goal has seen the Gills drop into the bottom four for the first time this season. That run has coincided with an horrendous injury situation which has seen many of their best players sidelined.
The injuries have clearly been a factor in Gills' poor form and a weekend off has been welcomed by Evans and those players desperate for more time to get fit.
"It is important we all reset ourselves," said Evans.
"My job is to make sure between now and Christmas we get as many players back as we can.
"It gives the boys who have been out there playing (with injuries) a chance to get fit."
It's FA Cup second round weekend coming up and Gillingham's defeat to Cheltenham Town at the first hurdle of the competition means they sit it out this Saturday.
They return to action with a trip to League 1 leaders Rotherham United next Tuesday (December 7).
Captain Kyle Dempsey and leading scorer Vadaine Oliver are unlikely to return for that match but left-back David Tutonda will be close. Midfielders Ben Reeves, Dan Phillips and Alex MacDonald will all hope to return soon.
Dan Adshead is the latest in the treatment room after limping off with a foot injury on Saturday, in Gills' 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth. He will need an operation on a broken foot. Defender Max Ehmer also picked up a knock late on but there are no major issues.
Evans said: "I don't think we will have anyone else back available (for Rotherham), maybe Rhys Bennett.
"Other than that it will give Mustapha Carayol the opportunity to get a bit of fitness work done, same for Olly Lee, same for Robbie McKenzie, the boys that have been struggling with injuries."
Evans added: "It is quite interesting, my daughter said to me on Friday that someone put a tweet out that Evans needs to stop talking about these injuries that don't exist! Whoever tweeted that lives on Mars.
"We had seven out on Saturday, four or five would probably have started, plus those lads who did start that need more time to get fit. Muzzy looked leggy because he is trying to catch his match fitness up.
"The break gives some of the players chance to get away and freshen their minds and their bodies up. They are the ones who have been out every minute of every game recently, because they have had to."