Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has extra options to choose from this weekend.
Ainsworth will have to leave several first-team players back in Kent when they head to south Wales for a game at Newport, as injured players start to return.
Striker Seb Palmer-Houlden has been declared fit and available for selection, as has Ethan Coleman, the midfielder having got over a recent knock.
With Shad Ogie back from an injury and midfielder Euan Williams soon to be available, it’s given Ainsworth plenty to think about ahead of their away game.
He said: “Seb Palmer-Houlden, Shadrach Ogie and Ethan Coleman are all back in the fold now.
“Euan Williams is training with us day in, day out and is probably just a week away.
“I’ve got some selection headaches now. That’s what I wanted.
“We’ve got one or two knocks still that we’ve got to carry and will miss out this week, but I’ve got real good headaches.
“A few of them won’t come to Wales but having the chats with them, they’re all saying, ‘Okay, that’s fine – I’ll be ready when you need me’. That’s exactly what I want.
“That’s such a hard place to be as a footballer. I’ve been there.
“Massive respect to those boys. They’re driving the group just as much as the ones that are getting picked in week in, week out.
“It’s brilliant to have the depth and quality of squad we’ve got.”
Ainsworth has said “there’s a chance” that Armani Little could feature this weekend.
Palmer-Houlden has yet to make his full senior debut after picking up a pre-season injury.
The 21-year-old summer recruit played a season on loan at Newport during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring seven league goals.
“He’s ready for the squad,” said the Gills boss.
“It’s brilliant to see him on the training pitch and he obviously had a stint at Newport as well. There’s a little irony there.
“It’s great to see Seb and Shad both back to full fitness and Euan on the training pitch.
“Ethan’s only been out a week, but we’ve missed him.
“I’ve got big headaches. We’ve got a real big squad to pick from and take 18 to go and do the job.”
Ainsworth also commented on Dack’s role the week before, playing the full match against Notts County and captaining the side in the absence of Little.
He said: “Bradley Dack getting 94 minutes was a bit of a lump-in-the-throat moment.
“He probably didn’t think he’d play again at some stages with his injuries, so to come back to play 94 minutes, to captain the team, to put in a performance the way he did. I thought he was exceptional.
“Bradley’s all in for this club. He’s a player that went and came back. He loves this place and he will fight for this place.
“I think it was a proud moment for Bradley to captain the side on that super performance last week.”
