Charlie Lee insists he can be the man to solve Gillingham’s defensive dilemma.

The Gills are desperately short of central defenders ahead of their League 1 trip to promotion-chasing Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Midfielder Lee came off the bench at Peterborough in midweek to replace injured centre-half Ryan Inniss and is ready for the call once again, should he be needed.

He said: “I played there a bit for Peterborough when we went up to the Championship.

“If the manager wants me to play centre-half, then I will be ready. If he wants me to play anywhere else, then I will be ready as well.”

Lee has often filled in at right-back but rarely been asked to operate in the middle of the defence. But with Inniss and Leon Legge both injured, the Gills have few other options - captain Adam Barrett is the only other senior centre-back available.

Gills go to an out-of-form Orient already guaranteed a play-off place and still in with an outside chance of automatic promotion. But Lee thinks the Gills could get a result – one which should finally put an end to talk of relegation.

He said: “We know we can get points anywhere. We produced a workmanlike performance at MK Dons and got a result. We have to be confident. We are still in a good spot in the league.”