GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler is keeping fans guessing over his first choice strike partnership.

The overnight success of Guy Ipoua and Mamady Sidibe has made the Gills boss think again after persistent injury problems sidelined his original first choice of Rod Wallace and Tommy Johnson who have yet to play together.

Sidibe's twisted knee ligaments, sustained against Preston on Monday, forces him out of Saturday's trip to Leicester where a new partnership of Ipoua and Tommy Johnson is likely to take centre stage.

"Who are our first choice strikers? I'll answer that when everyone is fit," said Hessenthaler. "We have made some excellent signings and once everyone is fit we'll have plenty of options.

"Rod Wallace and Tommy Johnson would have been my first choice pairing up front at the beginning of the season without a doubt. "But both Guy and Big Mama have done very well. They have exceeded all expectations so we'll have to see.

"I was pleased with Tommy when he came on for Big Mama against Preston. He looked sharp again, as he had done on Saturday at Norwich."

Hessenthaler looks certain to start with Ipoua and Johnson up front for the club's first visit to the Walkers Stadium on Saturday. With Wallace likely to be on the bench, he and Johnson could finally come together against Leicester, who drew 0-0 away to Crystal Palace last night.