Gillingham face Brighton on Wednesday night in their opening Combination League reserve match severely weakened by first-team injuries.

With 11 players missing at the weekend, manager Andy Hessenthaler has named just four players from the professional ranks.

Luke Rooney will start, along with keeper Lance Cronin, defender Connor Essam and striker Andrew White.

The Gills will also field former Watford and Barnet striker Jason Norville. The 26-year-old played for the Gills in pre-season and is still looking for a club.

On the bench for the Gills is manager Andy Hessenthaler’s son Jake (pictured), who had previously been on the youth books at Chelsea, while nephew Josh Hare is also named among the substitutes.

The reserve match takes at the Sussex County FA, Culver Road in Lancing with a 7pm kick-off.

Gills: Cronin, Evans, Essam, Davies, Parter, A Brown, Rooney, J Brown, White, Norville, Benniman. Subs: Humber, J Hessenthaler, Nyafli, J Hare, Hawkes.