Manager Gareth Ainsworth expects Gillingham striker Oli Hawkins to declare himself fit for the weekend despite picking up a nasty injury on Easter Monday.
Hawkins left the field after just 15 minutes of Monday’s game against AFC Wimbledon after suffering a bone fracture in his hand. He initially tried to play on before the pain got too much. His replacement Joe Gbode went on to score the winner.
Ainsworth didn’t mention there were any other injury concerns since Monday, when he spoke to the press ahead of the match against Swindon Town this Saturday.
Central defender Andy Smith and captain Armani Little are both pushing for a return to action.
Ainsworth said: “Smithy and Armani are both out on the grass now, which is great. We can include them in contention.
“The likes of Ethan (Coleman), who’s been waiting patiently, and Dom Corness, players like that who haven’t featured yet, I’ve got to have a look at at some stage. It might just be training that I have to look at those players in, but we’re all fully fit.
“I think Josh Andrews is probably the only one we won’t risk and that’s just on the history that he’s had this year, a tough year with injuries.
“But everyone else, I think, will be ready for selection in these last two games.
“Oli Hawkins went off with a hand injury. I think there’s a bone issue but I know that Oli’s going to probably declare himself that he can play.
“He’s a tough, tough guy and like I said in my press after the game on Monday, what a team decision he made. Just to say: ‘Look, I can’t give everything’.
“But we’re monitoring him. He’s cracked a bone or something. We’ll have to keep that one as safe as it can be but I’m sure Oli would love to play as well.”
One player who’s been out of the picture since Ainsworth arrived has been skipper Max Ehmer.
He’s not featured at all and may well have played his last game for the club. The 33-year-old had one season away in the last decade and has played 439 games for the Gills.
It’s the club’s end-of-season presentation evening on Saturday and Ehmer’s likely to be there with the rest of the squad.
“I think maybe Max will be (here) at the weekend,” said Ainsworth.
“He’s obviously not played a part for me yet, and I have respect for Max. I knew Max as a young player at QPR.
“When I’ve always come here with teams he’s always been playing, an absolute stalwart. Obviously, it’s great what he’s done for Gillingham.
“He hasn’t featured for me yet but I’ve been pleased with the defenders I’ve had in. Hopefully Max will be seen around the place.”
