There’s only one senior player that Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has definitely ruled out for the trip to Accrington Stanley.
Midfielder Euan Williams hasn’t featured in pre-season since suffering a shoulder injury and is some way off being fit. Ainsworth isn’t ruling anyone else in, or out for their season opener on Saturday.
Striker Sam Vokes and winger Aaron Rowe are both on the training ground, but as neither have been involved in pre-season games, it’s unlikely that the pair will be able to make the opening weekend.
Seb Palmer-Houlden came off injured at Dartford last weekend in Gillingham’s final pre-season outing, and he’s not been ruled out for the game at Accrington.
Speaking on Thursday, Ainsworth said: “I’m not going to say on public record who’s not travelling and who is travelling.”
The Gills boss did say that summer signing Palmer-Houlden was “better than we thought, which is good.”
He added: “We’re going to see for the games coming up, whether he can be involved.
“To have to take him off before we planned was a blow, but yeah, definitely better than we thought.”
Rowe ended last season well, coming back into the team and scoring on the final day at Port Vale, but he’s missed the whole of pre-season injured.
Ainsworth also commented on Rowe’s status, saying: “He finished with a great goal at Port Vale. Aaron’s back on the grass now, which is great.
“Again, one that we’ve got to consider for the next coming games.
“As for Sam Vokes, he gets the all clear with his arm today (Thursday), which is great.
“I think we’re looking okay. It’s not all doom and gloom. The only one who definitely won’t make the trip is Euan Williams, who’s obviously been seen in a sling. He damaged his shoulder in one of the early days in pre-season.
“It’s really unfortunate for Euan because he’s a top, top player. Just the ground was so hard and he took a fall, and I’ve done it.
“He’s damaged his shoulder in a slight way that doesn’t allow him to train at the moment.
“Euan will be out. But apart from that, nobody else is getting anything else out of me!”
