Gillingham picked up a couple more injuries on Saturday in their 4-1 win over Carlisle United.
Goalscorer Tim Dieng came off early in the second half and Conor Masterson didn’t last the 90 either.
More: ‘A quick start and a strong finish – Gills reaction’
With a handful of players already out, manager Mark Bonner wasn’t taking any chances with the pair.
Dieng – who scored a third-minute opening goal – came off after feeling a twinge to his hamstring.
He was playing in a more advanced positron than he had been doing in pre-season, supporting striker Jacob Wakeling, because of injuries elsewhere.
Manager Mark Bonner said: “It was not something we had looked at pre-season really, but the profile of our number nine changed in the last couple of weeks.
“Against three big centre-halves and a big holding midfield player we couldn’t be too small at the top end of the pitch.
“We needed a target to hit, to throw to, to kick to and he was a brilliant first contact for us.
“He gave us a nice physical profile top end of the pitch before he came off. That worked for us and it’s certainly a position he can play.
“Timmy felt his hamstring in the first half and we hope he has caught that early enough. We got him out second half but as soon as he made one run, he was like, ‘no, I’m not going to open up’. Hopefully that settles and isn’t too bad.”
The Gills were already without forwards Josh Andrews and Elliott Nevitt. Transfer-listed George Lapslie can play in the role but has only just come back from an injury of his own and wasn’t in the squad.
At the back, Masterson was replaced late on by Shad Ogie.
Bonner said: “Conor has a bit of tendonitis in the Achilles and the pitches are really hard at the moment so he is just getting through.
“We are managing him through. He will be fine as he pitches soften up, no problem there.”
Ethan Coleman remains out too but midfielder Armani Little came back at the weekend and played the full match.
“How on earth Armani Little played 90 minutes I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll be making the trip to Swansea (on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup).”
