Wigan Athletic v Gillingham

GILLINGHAM will take a depleted squad to league leaders Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Gills suffered a further injury blow at Ninian Park when last season’s player-of-the-year Danny Spiller limped out with a stress fracture of his left leg and will be out for two months.

Languishing in the bottom two, Gills are also without Matt Jarvis (stomach). Andy Hessenthaler (ankle) is a real doubt but Darren Byfield (knee) is close to a return.

However. better news has come in the the shape of new on-loan golakeeper Paul Gallacher, who has signed a short-term deal until January 7.

In contrast, the Championship leaders are in excellent form, going into the game on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Preston.

Ternent said: "Wigan are a good side and it will be a tough match. But the Championship is full of challenges. I’m looking forward to getting my feet under the table and getting cracking.

"The bottom line is that we are at the wrong end of the table. But we can do better than we have been doing and have to start showing that.

"There are a good set of lads here and I will give them all the backing I can. Together with the chairman and fans’ support, I believe I can channel them in the right direction."

Ternent joined the Gills after five months out of the game following his shock departure from Burnley in the summer.