GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler believes the recent loan signings of Wayne Brown and Trevor Benjamin, coupled with the summer purchases of John Hills and Ian Cox, has given his squad some badly-needed depth.

Although Rod Wallace (hamstring) and Nicky Southall (ankle) are unavailable for this weekend's trip to Rotherham and Paul Shaw (hamstring) is doubtful, the Gillingham manager has a number of options to choose from.

Barry Ashby looks set to return from flu, while Mark Saunders and Hessenthaler himself are ready to declare themselves fit after picking up hip and eye injuries in mid-week.

In Tuesday night's 2-0 Carling Cup win at Stoke, Hessenthaler was unable to select Brown or Benjamin but instead relied on fringe players like David Perpetuini, who didn't let him down.

Hessenthaler said: "Perps did well. He's been in and out of the side but I brought him in and he responded very well. I left John Hills out on Saturday and I thought he also responded well.

"That's good news and that's what I want. We have a squad of players now that are fighting for places and if they respond like they did against Stoke and play like that, then they can keep their places."

The cup win comes on the back of another 2-0 victory, against West Ham in the league at Priestfield, results Hessenthaler believes will boost the players' confidence even further.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the Stoke win. It's a carry-over from Saturday and pleasing to get another clean sheet. If we keep producing that level of commitment and endeavour it will do for me.

"Up until the West Ham game we had conceded a few goals so it's nice to keep two clean sheets. Against Stoke, we got the ball we kept it very well, passed it very well and on the night probably could have got another couple of goals.

"So I'm pleased with the performance. It's another confidence booster and it's up to us now to keep that going."

GILLINGHAM'S Rod Wallace (hamstring) and Nicky Southall (ankle) are unavailable for Saturday's trip to Rotherham and Paul Shaw (hamstring) is doubtful.

But manager Andy Hessenthaler has a number of options to choose from. Barry Ashby looks set to return from flu, while Mark Saunders and Hessenthaler himself are ready to declare themselves fit after picking up hip and eye injuries in mid-week.

Hessenthaler believes the recent loan signings of Wayne Brown and Trevor Benjamin, coupled with the summer purchases of John Hills and Ian Cox, has given his squad some badly-needed depth.

In Tuesday night's 2-0 Carling Cup win at Stoke, Hessenthaler was unable to select Brown or Benjamin but instead relied on fringe players like David Perpetuini, who didn't let him down.

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