Gillingham vs Crewe preview - Late test for Pritchard

Posted Friday, August 29, 2014 by PA

Gillingham midfielder Josh Pritchard faces a fitness battle ahead of the League One visit of Crewe after picking up "a little bit of a groin injury" in Tuesday's Capital One Cup loss to Newcastle.

Peter Taylor revealed the 21-year-old Welshman was always due to come off at half-time following his first start of the season, though, and commented: "He was just feeling it a touch but 45 was enough and hopefully there's nothing wrong."

Cody McDonald managed just over an hour against the Magpies as he continues to recover from an injury sustained on the opening day of the season and Taylor wants him raring to go for the weekend.

Danny Kedwell is fine, despite appearing to pick up a knock in the same match, and Taylor told Gills Player: "I'd love to have the headache of having everybody available for the full 90 minutes but we're going along okay."

Crewe expect George Ray to feature despite a head injury.

The defender required stitches under his eye after receiving a blow in the Capital One Cup extra-time defeat to Bolton in midweek, but has told boss Steve Davis he feels fine.

On-loan midfielder Jamie Ness (hamstring) is definitely out, though, and has returned to parent club Stoke for treatment on an injury he sustained last weekend.

Harry Davis (knee), Ryan Colclough (hernia) and Thierry Audel (shoulder) all remain absent, while Steve Davis will surely consider changes after an energy-sapping 120 minutes on Tuesday night.