Colchester United v Gillingham

STRIKER Darren Byfield makes his first league start for Gillingham since September at Colchester this afternoon.

The Gills' top scorer will lead the line with Mike Flynn just behind as the club looks to halt a run of five straight away defeats.

Teenage defender Sean Clohessy makes his league debut for the club after starting the midweek LDV Vans Trophy defeat against Wycombe.

There is no place in the starting line-up for the fit-again Jason Brown as Tony Bullock continues between the posts.

Chris Hope has failed to recover from a calf injury so Leon Johnson will partner Ian Cox in the heart of the defence.

A minute's silence will be held before kick-off out of respect for the late George Best, who died yesterday.

Gillingham: Bullock, Clohessy, Cox, Johnson, Williams, Spiller, Smith, Crofts, Jarvis, Flynn, Byfield.
Subs: Brown, Rose, Jackman, Saunders, Harris.